(FILE) In this file photo the Canadian flag flies over the Lake Louise ski lodge in the Canadian Rockies November 29, 2017 in Lake Louise, Alberta. AFP file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Canada will be accepting more immigrants in 2022, its embassy in the Philippines announced Thursday.
The Canadian Embassy said it hopes to welcome 430,000 permanent residents this year to fill up available job positions.
In 2021, Canada accepted 405,000 immigrants, which is so far the highest number of immigrants it had accepted in a single year, the embassy said.
“Despite having regained many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, there are still hundreds of thousands of positions in all sectors waiting to be filled,” the embassy said in a statement.
It added that the worker retiree ratio in Canada will drop to only 3:1, with five million Canadians set to retire by the end of this decade.
This is why Canada will then further increase its cap on immigrants to 447,000 in 2023 and 451,000 in 2024 to boost the Canadian labor force and spur post-pandemic growth.
“Immigration already accounts for almost 100 percent of labor force growth. This is a clear sign that we have a strong economic need for increased immigration,” it added.
The embassy pointed out that immigrants were vital in shaping Canada “into the country it is today,” adding that they have helped the country’s society during the pandemic ,especially those in the healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing sectors.
“Without them, Canada would not have been able to overcome challenges in critical industries and sectors of the economy over the past 2 years,” it said.
“Now, more than ever, immigrants are a key part of our country’s continued success,” the embassy added.