Study Puts Canada and Australia’s Skilled Migrant Programmes Head-to-Head
15/05/2008 by Charlotte Norman
The Institute for Research on Public Policy have conducted a detailed comparison of both Canada and Australia's Migration Policies, with results showing that new changes introduced by Australia have had overwhelmingly positive effects.
Officially titled 'The impact of economic selection policy on labour market outcomes for degree-qualified skilled migrants in both Australia and Canada', the study examines a number of factors surrounding migrants entering and settling in both countries.
A significant conclusion of the research, found that Australia's skilled migration program was notably more successful. It seems that Australia's revised selection criterion has had a dramatic effect on improving the country's employment. This was particularly evident with results showing that degree-qualified skilled migrants in Australia are securing positions a lot quicker than their Canadian counterparts.
The study highlighted that far larger proportions of new immigrants in Australia manage to quickly secure positions, gain professional or managerial status, earn high salaries and use their credentials to work.
In comparison, Canada's wage outcomes have declined and the number of migrants finding and securing positions remains at a stable figure, whilst Australia's number increases.
Liam Clifford from Global Visas said that "both countries are popular routes for immigration; it is interesting to see how different methods of managing their migrant programs can produce contrasting effects."
The study based a substantial amount of their findings on the comparison of the labour market integration rate. This was judged from the first five years of the arrival of migrants, all of which held a professional degree.
The past decade has seen both Canada and Australia place a significant emphasis on the recruitment of migrants with skills. A skills shortage is a problem which both countries have been facing, with them competing against each other and an array of other destinations in order to recruit skilled workers.
Both countries have adopted a points-based system regarding independent skilled migration; however, major policy differences in this area have emerged between both nations in recent decades.
The report explains that "A decade ago, labour market integration rates for economic migrants to Canada and Australia were virtually identical. Since then, Australia's outcomes have dramatically improved while Canada's have stood still. This is despite of the near-identical economic cycles of the two countries, and the fact that they are equivalent settlement sites for degree qualified migrants across all immigration categories."
In the mist of the studies findings Canada is working towards alleviating many of the problems. For instance the recent announcement for proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will allow officials to prioritise applicants with experience relevant to needs of employers.
Author of the study, Lesley Anne Hawthorne said new plans are "an attempt to modernize the immigration system and make it more responsive to Canada's labour market needs."
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