Decision Drivers

We asked both highly skilled migrants and international students what were the main factors that influenced their decision to migrate to Canada. The responses below show the difference between prospective migrants, those who have not yet moved, and actual migrants who are now living in Canada.

WHAT WE HEARD

In our follow-up interviews, we often heard that migration decisions were influenced by a mix of personal aspirations (including the chance to create a better and safe life for the whole family) and structural factors such as the economic conditions and immigration policies of the country.

Ariful, 29-year-old male from Bangladesh

Ariful and his partner believed that Canada gave his young family the best potential to live a better life and was the only destination country they would consider. He came to Ontario as a spouse of an international student and under an open work permit. Though he had a master’s degree in business studies and experience in a renowned bank in Bangladesh, it took some time to find work in Canada. That job was critical, however, as it qualified Ariful to apply for permanent residency after only one year of experience in Canada.

WHAT WE LEARNED 

Whether they were on their way or already here, migrants chose Canada primarily for the quality of life that the country offered. Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, a significant portion of the respondents who completed our survey believed that they would find better opportunities for career and income attainment in Canada. For many, Canada’s flexible immigration policies and the possibility of obtaining permanent residency, as well as the country’s reputation as a welcoming and safe place to live, were key drivers for their decision to migrate to Canada.

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“If I consider the US or Australia or somewhere in Europe, there is also so much negativity, like gunfire. Canada is a better place for me to raise my kids, and their education is totally free here. It's a very nice place to settle and plan a future.” 

Ariful

29-year-old male from Bangladesh

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"Well, I chose Canada because of the quality of life, the safety, the culture, the idea of living somewhere new. I also know that Toronto is very multicultural, there are people from everywhere. I really liked that in some respects, it’s kind of similar to New York.”

Suelen

30-year-old female from Brazil

WHAT WE HEARD

Our interviews confirmed the survey data.  Many of the highly skilled female migrants who we interviewed said that the potential for a higher quality of work life, leading to career advancement was a key factor in their decision to migrate, as well as the promise that Canada would live up to its reputation as a safe country in which to live.

Suelen, 30-year-old female from Brazil

Suelen had a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from a US university. After she completed her studies, she returned to Brazil and began working as a senior project manager with a pharmaceutical company. Not long into her new job, she decided to migrate to Canada under a work permit or a permanent residency scheme. 

WHAT WE LEARNED 

Prospective male migrants generally valued the quality of life and better career and income prospects in Canada more than females. However, once migrants were here in Canada, this trend reversed: females placed more value on having a good quality of life and better career and income prospects in Canada compared to males. Also of note, once in Canada, the influence of family and friends dropped dramatically for women. The shifts suggest that female immigrants experience a greater gain than males in their independence and decision making once they are living here in Canada.

WHAT WE LEARNED 

For international students, the potential to have better professional career and income prospects after graduation were the main motivational factors to choose Canada for higher studies. Once in Canada, the potential to obtain permanent residency became much more top of mind for international students. The fact that the importance of the quality of education declined among those who were now living in Canada could be a warning that the experience is not meeting their expectations.

WHAT WE HEARD

Many of the international students whom we interviewed chose Canada because of the perceived quality of the education, the lower cost compared to other countries, the potential for a post graduate work permit and eventually permanent residency. However, not everyone had the education experience they had hoped for once in Canada.

Niti, 21-year-old female from Nepal

Niti came to Canada in 2022 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  Niti, with guidance from her family, chose Canada because of  the prospects of a good quality education, less racial discrimination, and the opportunity to apply for permanent residency. Unfortunately, Niti’s university experience did not live up to her expectations so she contemplated transferring to a private college.

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“I now know that a college diploma is a two-year course. Then you have to work in the same field for a year and apply for PR. For a bachelor's degree, it's three-and-a-half years of study and one year of work. Comparatively, it’s much more expensive and has a longer wait time for PR.

Niti

21-year-old female from Nepal

Prospective

Actual

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“Most probably, I would take on a job after completing my studies. Then I'll try to live in Canada itself because, in the kind of field I have chosen, I need hands-on experience.” 

Ruchi

19 year-old-female from India

WHAT WE HEARD

The female international students whom we interviewed often said that migrating to Canada was an opportunity to thrive professionally and personally in a more gender-neutral environment, suggesting they were highly likely to consider staying in Canada beyond their academic pursuits.

Ruchi 19-year-old female from India

Ruchi came to Canada in 2022 under a study permit to pursue an arts degree that would lead to work in the media industry – a career path that was discouraged for girls in her home country of India. Ruchi’s parents finally agreed to let her study abroad only because they knew that Canada had a reputation as a safe country.

WHAT WE LEARNED 

Our study shows that the desire for international experience was greater for female international students than for male students. Female students were also more likely to rate the positive features of Canadian life as a factor in their decision. Males, on the other hand,  were driven to migrate more by what they were able to leave behind (i.e., the deficiencies of technology at home).