A Glimpse at International Migration

Migrant caravan leaving Tapachula, Mexico for U.S. border, December 24, 2023

The United Nations defines an international migrant as any person who has changed his or her country of residence, regardless of their legal status, or the nature, or motive of their movement.[1]

People leave their home country for various reasons, some to seek work or economic opportunity, to join family or to study, while others depart to escape conflict, persecution or human rights violations. Some emigrate because of adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters or other environmental factors.

According to the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), as of July 1, 2020, the global number of international migrants was estimated to be 281 million, with international migrants comprising some 3.5 per cent of the world's population, compared to 2.8 per cent in 2000 and 2.3 per cent in 1980.[1] Close to three out of four international migrants were aged between 20 and 64 years, while 41 million were under the age of 20. Some 31 per cent of international migrants reside in Asia, with the same percentage also living in Europe, followed by 21 per cent in Northern America (northern-most region of the continent, including Canada and the U.S.) nine per cent in Africa, five per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and the remaining three per cent in Oceania.

Refugees

"During the year, the global refugee population increased by seven per cent to reach 43.4 million," informs the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in its Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2023 report published in June 2024.[2]

This includes 31.6 million refugees and people in a refugee-like situation and 5.8 million other people in need of international protection under UNHCR's mandate, as well as 6 million Palestinian refugees under UNRWA's mandate. Compared to a decade ago, the total number of refugees globally has more than tripled.

The countries which account for the largest numbers of refugees and other people in need of international protection are Afghanistan and Syria, 6.4 million each, totaling one-third of all refugees under UNHCR's mandate, followed by Venezuela (6.1 million) and Ukraine (6.0).

Most refugees remain near their country of origin, with 69 per cent hosted in neighbouring countries. Many refugees, like Syrians and Palestinians, are not seeking asylum but to return home. They often end up in the refugee camps for years. Those going to the U.S., Canada, Britain and such places are usually seeking asylum.

By the end of 2022, the world had an estimated 35.3 million refugees, including 5.9 million Palestine refugees under the mandate of UNRWA, including 5.4 million who were asylum-seekers.[3]  

International Migration to Canada

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs' World Population Prospects 2024, international migration is one of four major demographic trends shaping our world, the others being population growth, population ageing and urbanization.[4] The report says, "In a small number of countries and areas, immigration is projected to attenuate the decline in population size caused by sustained low levels of fertility and an older age structure." Immigration is projected to be the main driver of population growth in 52 countries and areas throughout 2054 and in 62 through 2100 the report goes on to say. This group includes Australia, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

Also, in a small number of countries including Canada and the U.S., the population is projected to grow by over 23 per cent between 2024 and 2100 largely as a result of immigration. In Canada, as in France and Sweden, more than 20 per cent of the population was already 65 or older in 2024.

International Students

Based on a Statistics Canada report released on November 20, the number of international students has consistently risen across Canada over the past decade and accounted for 21.2 per cent of all college and university enrolments in 2022/2023.[5] Overall, the number of international students more than doubled from 2013/2014 (199,116) to 2022/2023 (468,087). During the same decade, Canadian student college and university enrolments decreased by 5.7 per cent, from 1,842,903 in 2013/2014 to 1,738,095 in 2022/2023.

The same report noted an increase of 16 per cent (+64,524) in 2022/2023 in international student enrolments compared with the previous year, with the majority enrolled in colleges. This steady annual increase brought international student college enrolment growth up nearly 400 per cent, from 54,738 in 2013/2014 to 205,242 in 2022/2023. Fields of study such as business and administration (+20.1 per cent; +24,843) and mathematics and computer and information sciences (+16.1 per cent; +8,511) posted the largest increases for international students nationally in 2022/2023.

The increase in international student college enrolments observed was driven by students from India (+31.6 per cent to 115,119 students), with the number of international students from India studying in Canadian colleges accounting for 56.1 per cent of all international student college enrolments.

Temporary Foreign Workers

A November 27 Statistics Canada Report indicates that temporary foreign workers include work permit holders, study permit holders and asylum claimants engaged in work activity in Canada.[6]

Statistics Canada findings reveal a large increase in the number of temporary foreign workers in recent years, an increase from 356,000 in 2011 to 845,000 in 2021. Interestingly, study permit holders accounted for most temporary foreign workers. These workers and their spouses made up 60 per cent of all temporary foreign workers in Canada in 2021, up from 24 per cent in 2011.

The report also draws attention to a notable shift in "paid employment patterns of temporary foreign workers towards low-paying industrial sectors." For example, close to 140,000 temporary residents were employed in accommodation and food services in 2021, accounting for 17 per cent of all temporary foreign workers. The significant increase in the number of study permit holders has also contributed, according to the report, to "the rapid growth in foreign workers employed in retail trade and in administrative and support, waste management and remediation services, which usually pay low wages." The share of temporary foreign workers employed in these three sectors increased from 34 per cent in 2011 to 42 per cent in 2021.

Refugees and Protected Persons

Whereas in 2022, Canada admitted a total of 74,342 refugees and protected persons as permanent residents, in 2023 it admitted 74,979, which represented a one per cent increase.[7]

Notes

1. Global Issues, International Migration, United Nations 

2. Global Trends, June 2024, UNHCR

3. Global Issues, International Migration, United Nations 

4. World Population Prospects 2024, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Summary of Results, July2024 

5. Canadian postsecondary enrolments and graduates, 2022/2023, Statistics Canada, November 2024 

6. Research to Insights: Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada, Statistics Canada, November 27, 2024

7. 2024 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 

 

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This article was published in

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2024/Articles/TI54714.HTM

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