Overview
- Quebec retained 94% of immigrants admitted in 2021 after one year, an 8.8 percentage point increase compared to 2018 newcomers, driven largely by economic immigrants.
- Atlantic Canada saw sharp declines in one-year retention rates for immigrants admitted in 2020, with Newfoundland and Labrador experiencing the steepest drop of 14.1 percentage points.
- Five-year retention rates for immigrants admitted between 2013 and 2017 were highest in Ontario (93.5%), British Columbia (87.5%), Alberta (87.3%), and Quebec (79.7%).
- Key factors for Atlantic Canada’s low retention include limited job opportunities, lack of cultural and community support, and challenges integrating into smaller, close-knit communities.
- Experts emphasize the need for Atlantic provinces to improve employment prospects, expand community support, and consider larger-scale immigration to address severe labor shortages and aging populations.