In a study from Statistics Canada, researchers have looked closely at why some immigrants choose to leave Canada.
The study starts by giving us a big-picture view of immigrant leaving. Over 35 years, around 5.1% of immigrants left within five years of coming to Canada. This number goes up to 17.5% after 20 years. The chances of leaving are highest three to seven years after arriving.
The study then digs into the details, looking at various things that might make immigrants want to leave. A table with numbers shows that having kids in the family makes immigrants less likely to leave. This tells us that family is a big part of why immigrants stay.
Where immigrants are from also makes a big difference. People from the United States and Taiwan are more likely to leave than those from China. On the other hand, immigrants from places like the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Jamaica are less likely to leave even when we consider other things like why they came to Canada.
Different reasons for coming to Canada also play a big role. Investors and entrepreneurs are more likely to leave, while refugees and caregivers are less likely. The level of education matters too. People with more education are more likely to leave.
The study is honest about how hard it is to study why immigrants leave. It talks about using more information, like data about kids’ benefits, and big data from sources like Twitter. The study also talks about problems with understanding return migration (when people leave but come back later) and circular migration (when people move back and forth between Canada and another country).
The study ends by saying how important it is to understand why immigrants leave as Canada depends more and more on people moving here. The information from this study is not just for people who make immigration rules but also for anyone who wants to know more about how immigration works in Canada.