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Immigration is a critical talent issue and has become a hot-button topic for business leaders, including Canada’s Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs). Political, economic and other shifts — including new federal government announcements in November — are driving immigration up the HR priority list and creating a need for CHROs to redouble their focus on this space. Doing so proactively can actually help CHROs set organizations apart in a sea of competition, fuelling sustainable talent recruitment, acquisition and retention in the years ahead.
What kinds of drivers are reshaping immigration for Canada’s HR leaders?
Political and economic factors add to the complexity of attracting and retaining international talent, impacting the relative ease of maneuvering through, and complying with, immigration laws.
Just last month, the Canadian government announced a significant reduction in targets both for newly admitted permanent and new temporary residents — workers and students — for 2025 and 2026.
Illustrating the importance of immigration in Canada, these reductions alone are expected to lower Canada’s population by 0.2% in 2025 and again in 2026 and are expected to impact businesses’ access to international talent.
This evolving reality has given CHROs a lot to address all at once. That said, where should you begin?