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Immigration

Signal49 Research is Canada’s immigration research hub, delivering non-partisan research for leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The strength of our research is based on independence, engaging diverse stakeholders, and leveraging demographic, fiscal, and economic models. Our work focuses on strengthening the Canadian immigration system and accelerating the benefits of a growing global talent pool for both newcomers and Canadians.

90+

Outputs under the Immigration team

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Featured Research

Immigrant Skill Utilization in the Healthcare Sector—April 2026

From Newcomers to Game Changers: Immigrant Skill Utilization in the Healthcare Sector Canada has acute labour shortages in healthcare, yet immigrant healthcare professionals are working in jobs where their skills…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Health and Healthcare
Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Canadian Territories, Economy Analysis
Employment Rate in Canada, Health Education, Health Policy, Health Services Research, Healthcare in Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Population Research, Provincial Research, Upskilling the Workforce, Workforce of the Future, Workplace Barriers
Issue briefing​
April 29, 2026 20 min read

Immigrant Skill Utilization in the Construction Sector—April 2026

From Newcomers to Game Changers: Immigrant Skill Utilization in the Construction Sector  Canada’s construction sector is facing acute labour shortages, yet immigrant talent remains underutilized. Involuntary part-time work and overeducation…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Industry Economic Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Economic Forecast
Economy Analysis, Employment Rate in Canada, GDP Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Organizational Culture, Population Research, Upskilling the Workforce, Workforce of the Future, Workplace Barriers
Issue briefing​
April 29, 2026 13 min read

A Scorecard for Immigrant Skill Utilization—April 2026

From Newcomers to Game-Changers: A Scorecard for Immigrant Skill Utilization Canada selects highly skilled and educated immigrants for permanent residency, yet many find themselves either unemployed or working below their…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Canadian Cities, Economic Forecast
Economy Analysis, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Migrant Workers in Canada
Online Experience
April 16, 2026 15 min read

Connecting Small Businesses to Newcomer Talent—April 2025

Employer Engagement through Innovation: Connecting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to Newcomer Immigrant Talent In this research, we examine how Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can diversify their workforce by…
Topics: DEI Research, Immigration Research and Policy
People and Culture
Subject Matter: Business Research, DEI in the Workplace
Economy Analysis, Equity in the Workplace, Human Resources Management, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Inclusive Growth, Inclusive Practices in the Workplace, Organizational Culture, Workplace Barriers
Impact paper
April 28, 2025 18 min read
Builder laying stonework at new residential home

Work in Progress: How Immigration Can Address Labour Shortages in Residential Construction

In this research, we look at how Canada could help meet the goal to build 3.5 million new homes by 2031 by increasing the supply of immigrants with skills needed…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Canada Budget, COVID 19 Impact
Economic Forecast, Emerging Technologies, Employment Plan, Employment Rate in Canada, Fiscal Updates, Future of Work, Housing Market Forecast, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Industry Analysis, Innovation and Growth, Job Transitions, Labour Market, Labour Relations, Metro Housing, Post Pandemic, Provincial Research, Recovery Economy, Upskilling the Workforce, Workplace Barriers
Impact paper
October 16, 2023 45 min read

Insights From the 2024 Canadian Immigration Summit—June 2025

Building Inclusive Communities Amid Immigration Shifts: Insights From the 2024 Canadian Immigration Summit In this research, we summarize the insights gathered from 230 immigration experts and 61 esteemed speakers at…
Topics: DEI Research, Immigration Research and Policy
People and Culture
Subject Matter: Challenges Faced by International Students, Employment Rate in Canada
Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Inclusive Practices in the Workplace, Innovation and Growth, Labour Market, Population Research, Post Secondary Education in Canada
Issue briefing​
June 11, 2025 15 min read

Small Business, Big Impact: Immigrant Hiring and Integration in Five Canadian Cities—August 2024

In this research, based on dozens of interviews with leaders at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), SME-serving organizations, immigrant-serving agencies, and policy-makers, we explore how the labour and skill shortages…
Topics: Business and Household Indicators, Canadian Economic Analysis
Immigration Research and Policy, Urban City Economic Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Canadian Cities
Canadian Territories, Employment Plan, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Labour Market, Northern Canada, Organizational Culture, Population Research, Provincial Research, Upskilling the Workforce
Issue briefing​
August 14, 2024 19 min read

Trends in Retaining Skilled Immigrants—November 2025

The Leaky Bucket 2025: Retention Trends in Highly Skilled Immigrants and In-Demand Occupations This latest research builds on the 2024 Leaky Bucket report and confirms that one in five immigrants…
Topics: DEI Research, Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Business Research, Challenges Faced by International Students
Employment Rate in Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Organizational Culture, Salary Research
Impact paper, Summary for executives​
November 18, 2025 19 min read

Latest Research

Utilisation des compétences des immigrants dans le secteur de santé—avril 2026

Des nouveaux arrivants qui changent la donne : L’utilisation des compétences des immigrants dans le secteur de la santé Le Canada connaît une grave pénurie de main-d’œuvre dans le secteur…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Health and Healthcare
Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Canadian Territories, Economy Analysis
Employment Rate in Canada, Health Education, Health Policy, Health Services Research, Healthcare in Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Population Research, Provincial Research, Upskilling the Workforce, Workforce of the Future, Workplace Barriers
Issue briefing​
April 29, 2026 20 min read

Utilisation des compétences des immigrants dans le secteur de la construction—avril 2026

De nouveaux arrivants qui changent la donne : L’utilisation des compétences des immigrants dans le secteur de la construction Le secteur canadien de la construction est confronté à une grave…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Industry Economic Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Economic Forecast
Economy Analysis, Employment Rate in Canada, GDP Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Organizational Culture, Population Research, Upskilling the Workforce, Workforce of the Future, Workplace Barriers
Issue briefing​
April 29, 2026 10 min read

Utilisation des compétences des immigrants dans le secteur de l’hébergement et des services de restauration—avril 2026

De nouveaux arrivants qui changent la donne : L’utilisation des compétences des immigrants dans le secteur de l’hébergement et des services de restauration Les immigrants sont plus susceptibles que les…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Employment Plan, Employment Rate in Canada
GDP Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Population Research, Upskilling the Workforce, Workforce of the Future, Workplace Barriers
Issue briefing​
April 29, 2026 30 min read
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An exploration of how to make Canada’s immigration system more innovative, resilient, and responsive to complex challenges and unique opportunities.

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Research Centres

Funded by stakeholders, research centres investigate and discuss Canada’s challenges and opportunities.

Canada’s immigration system underperforms at quickly connecting immigrants with opportunities that match their skills, education, and experience. This leads to inadequate economic outcomes for immigrants and fails to meet employers’ skilled labour needs.

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Canada’s future prosperity depends on immigration. Optimizing the systems that help to attract, select, and settle immigrants will maximize the benefits of immigration for both newcomers and Canadians. The National Immigration Centre was established to enhance Canada’s immigration system through independent, impartial, evidence-based research.

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