Worth the Trip? Assessing the Returns to Foreign Education

Abstract

Canada’s pursuit of skilled foreign workers is complicated—immigrants, and especially those with credentials from non-English source countries are not being utilized as much as they could be. As this report demonstrates, there is a worrying disconnect between the capabilities of immigrants and the likelihood of their skills and credentials being accurately recognized by potential employers in Canada. In addition to breaking down earnings and employment data for newcomers by length of time in Canada, regional sources of acquired education/training, and proficiency in Canada’s official languages, this report also provides clear policy recommendations to ensure better transferability of immigrants qualifications and skills.