Amid the ongoing labor shortage across Canada, the federal Liberal government plans to welcome 500,000 more immigrants each year by 2025. This is also widely perceived as good news for overseas workers and students who hope to live and pursue greener pastures in the country.

An aging population is among the drivers of the labor shortage in Canada. According to reports, fewer workers have supported those who have retired. Essential public services such as roles in schools and hospitals are also in need of increased manpower and expanding this opportunity to immigrants turns out to be a feasible solution.

“It’s admirable to see governments becoming proactive in addressing economic problems such as labor shortages,” Sanjay Laul, CEO and Founder of education management company M Square Media, said. “Development plans like Canada’s yearly 500,000 goal in immigrants make me excited about the future of international students who aim to work, earn a degree, and probably live long-term on Canadian soil,” he added.

While the Fraser government is driven to reach this target, it remains cautious about the nuances that trail behind such development. This includes addressing the scarcity of affordable housing and ensuring immigrants get the support they need to easily transition into local communities.

The 500k yearly immigration target expects an influx of 465,000 new arrivals in 2023 and increasing it to 500,000 in 2025. Last year, there were already 405,000 permanent residents admitted to the country.