Growing Interest in Immigration to Canada Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

Thuỷ Thủ Agency
20-10-2025
News

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Growing Interest in Immigration to Canada Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

A new survey by World Education Services (WES) shows that interest in immigrating to Canada has grown significantly since the peak of the pandemic in April. Far from discouraging people, the coronavirus pandemic appears to have made Canada an even more attractive destination for prospective immigrants.

Settlement Information – August 27, 2020

In June, nearly half of respondents in the WES survey said COVID-19 had increased their interest in immigrating to Canada. This marked a higher proportion than in April, when a similar survey was conducted.

WES provides educational credential assessments for individuals immigrating to Canada under the economic class. The organization noted that it is uniquely positioned to gauge the motivations and intentions of aspiring immigrants, given its weekly interaction with thousands of interested applicants.

Rising Interest During COVID-19

More people reported that the pandemic increased their interest in moving to Canada, while fewer said they were discouraged. In June, 45% of respondents said they were more interested in immigrating due to the pandemic, compared to only 6% who said they were less interested.

Fewer respondents also reported considering a delay in their immigration plans. In June, about 32% said they were thinking about postponing their move to Canada, down from 35% in April.

Global Economic Conditions May Be a Factor

The WES survey found that many respondents believed Canada’s economic impact from the pandemic would be less severe than in their home countries. While Canada has experienced economic setbacks, the Labour Force Survey reported that about 55% of jobs lost to COVID-19 had been recovered by July.

Although economic concerns remain common among prospective immigrants, many expect Canada to weather the downturn better than their home countries. In June, 58% of respondents anticipated a negative impact on Canada’s economy, compared to over 80% expecting negative conditions at home. In April, expectations were closer, with 68% predicting negative effects in Canada.

A similar pattern emerged regarding the expected impact on specific professions or industries. In June, 57% of respondents anticipated negative effects on jobs in their own fields at home—up from 47% in April—while only 43% expected such impacts in Canada. In short, many believe Canada’s economic outlook is better than their own country’s.

“The overall expectation of less severe impacts in Canada, both on the broader economy and on sector-specific job opportunities, may help explain why nearly half of respondents in June expressed greater interest in moving to Canada due to COVID-19,” WES reported.

Immigrants Expected to Play a Key Role in Canada’s Recovery

Canada faces long-term talent shortages due to high retirement rates and low birth rates—challenges that predated the pandemic but may have worsened because of it.

WES noted:

“Canada continues to attract those who wish to settle here, which is good news for the country. Newcomers will play a vital role in the nation’s recovery.”

Canada’s Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino has repeatedly stated that immigration will remain a priority in the post-coronavirus world.

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