Pandemic Effects

In times of global uncertainty, we would expect that migration or plans to migrate would significantly decline. Our research aimed to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected migrants in making decisions as well as their actual experience living in Canada.

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“Pandemic had adverse impacts on my everyday life, because I often love going out to mix up with people and share ideas. I think it actually deprived me of my relationship with people and my social relationships. I was still working remotely. So it wasn't really a problem, but it affected me mentally.”

Baris

33-year-old male from Turkey

WHAT WE HEARD

Our interviews confirmed that the pandemic did not significantly influence the decision of highly skilled migrants to come to Canada. While the pandemic created administrative challenges for those intending to move to Canada, many who were already in the country faced anxiety and depression due to loneliness from being far from their families during the crisis.

Baris, 33-year-old male from Turkey

Baris came to Canada in 2019 under a temporary work permit to work as a project manager for an IT company in Quebec. While his settlement process was relatively easy because his employer helped him navigate the system, Baris still felt the pandemic had an adverse effect on his everyday life in Canada.

WHAT WE LEARNED 

Survey participants showed some negative concern for the pandemic’s impact on their potential to earn income and find a job in Canada; yet, for those highly skilled migrants already in Canada, this was much less of a concern. However, those migrants already in Canada were acutely aware that the pandemic was having a negative impact on the economy and also felt that the pandemic had a negative effect on the openness of Canadian society to immigrants.  

WHAT WE LEARNED 

Both actual and prospective international students were impacted by the pandemic more negatively than were highly skilled migrants. They indicated their financial security and ability to make loan repayments and fulfill household expenses were negatively impacted by the pandemic. Like the highly skilled migrants, the international students in Canada felt that the pandemic had a negative impact on the openness of Canadian society.

WHAT WE HEARD

Our interviews confirmed that the pandemic caused delays in visa applications, struggles to find a job, and feelings of loneliness for international students. However, it didn’t deter their desire to come to Canada to study. We also heard that the idleness brought about by the pandemic in the home country provided free time to research the possibilities and to reconnect with family and friends in Canada.

Rajesh, 27 year-old-male from India

Rajesh came to Canada in 2022 under a study permit to complete a Master’s degree in Innovation and Engineering in Ontario. He chose Canada for better career prospects and the presence of a large Indian community. Prior to the pandemic, Rajesh’s busy work schedule in India prevented him from contemplating studying abroad. However, the pandemic related lockdown provided him the time to finally research and follow through his migration plans. 

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“I was just working 10 to 12 hours each day. During the COVID period, I had time to research about going abroad. I would wake up each morning and spend about an hour just doing the research”

Rajesh

27 year-old-male from India

The pandemic's economic uncertainty significantly impacted the decision making of highly skilled migrants, with 84% affected.