There is a growing perception among Canadians that the country is losing its best and brightest workers to the United States. Does the evidence support the brain drain theory?
Are We Losing Our Minds? Trends, Determinants and the Role of Taxation in Brain Drain to the United States
Are We Losing Our Minds? Trends, Determinants and the Role of Taxation in Brain Drain to the United States
Business and Household Indicators
Canadian Economic Analysis
$0.00
This comprehensive examination of brain drain looks at the recent trend in emigration—both permanent and non-permanent—to the United States and examines its significance in a broader economic context.
The report discusses several categories of skilled labour emigrants: engineers, computer scientists, physicians, nurses, professors, teachers, managerial personnel and social scientists. The number of permanent emigrants to the United States in these categories has basically remained stable in recent years. However, when non-permanent emigrants are included in the analysis, the picture changes dramatically. In 1997, they accounted for 94 per cent of the total outflow of skilled Canadians as compared to 77 percent in 1986.
Swift action by business and governments—to offer more attractive compensation and redress the tax wedge—is needed to stem the flow of valuable Canadian talent across the border.
Customers Who Downloaded This Also Liked
10 min read
10 min read
10 min read
8 min read
Require an accessible version of this research?
Upon request, Signal49 Research offers accessible versions of research. Please contact us to request your accessible version.
Learn more about our accessibility policies.
Effective January 26, 2026, AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research discontinued use of ‘The Conference Board of Canada’ name, logo and branding, which had been used by AERIC Inc./Signal49 Research under license from The Conference Board, Inc. The Conference Board, Inc. and its licensees, which are not affiliated with Signal49 Research, own all right, title and interest in THE CONFERENCE BOARD name and trademarks in Canada and have the exclusive right to their use in Canada since January 26, 2026.
