Canada is becoming a top choice for skilled workers in STEM fields, offering abundant Canadian citizenship opportunities in STEM. With streamlined immigration programs like Express Entry and initiatives like the Global Skills Strategy, Canada provides clear, accessible pathways for international STEM professionals to build lasting careers and gain permanent residency. Read on to learn how Canada is opening doors for global talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The US is a hot destination for international students, which explains why there are more foreign students enrolled in its colleges and universities than any other country in the world.
Approximately 1.1 million international students studied in the US during the 2019-2020 school year. This might sound like a lot, but it’s actually 20,000 fewer international students than the year before, and the Institute of International Education found total international enrollment fell 16% between 2019 and 2020.
Of course, the pandemic has decreased international enrollment, but fewer students have been seeking an American education since 2016. But why?
While the high cost of a US education is one of those reasons, the downstream challenges of the US immigration system also factor into this decrease.
A large number of people come to the US to study in hopes of ultimately getting a related job and creating a life in the US, but with the H-1B visa program looking less and less attractive, other countries are starting to take in international students in higher numbers.
Including Canada. The Express Entry program offers a streamlined pathway for skilled workers, particularly in STEM fields, to gain permanent residency in Canada.
So let’s talk about this decrease of foreign students in the US, what it means for the US tech sector, and why Canada is so attractive, particularly for STEM students.
Fewer students are pursuing STEM degrees in the US, impacting future STEM professionals
In the past, the best and brightest among international students stayed in the US to work, but everything from the Trump administration’s travel bans, visa complications, and proposed limits on international students, American enrollment of foreign students has been stumbling.
This decrease could have surprising consequences for America’s tech industry – America is in a race for high-tech global supremacy and the US relies on its universities to educate future engineers and scientists.
About half of international students come to the US to major in STEM fields. For example, foreign students make up 81% of full-time graduate students in electrical engineering, 79% in computer science, and 59% in civil engineering.
Hundreds of thousands of international students graduate from American colleges with STEM degrees, providing a pipeline of high-skilled talent that has fueled America’s tech industry growth.
International students and graduates help America compete on the world stage, but enrollment rates are falling as competing countries step up recruiting efforts. Canada, for instance, offers numerous opportunities and immigration pathways for STEM professionals seeking to move, including the Express Entry system tailored for individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
What does this mean for US technology engineering and mathematics?
Losing international students is a ding to the US economy — international students contributed $38.7 billion to the nation’s economy and supported 415,996 jobs during the 2019-20 academic year — but more importantly, it threatens the advancement of science and research in the US
In 2016, all three Nobel Prize winners in physics were faculty members at American universities and all three were born outside the US America also risks losing the next generation of tech giants. Nearly 25% of startups worth more than $1 billion were founded by people who came to the US as international students.
A famous example is Elon Musk, who came to the US from South Africa and studied at the University of Pennsylvania before going on to lead SpaceX, Tesla, and other major companies.
Despite all their potential, international students face significant challenges when trying to stay in the US after graduation.
The US doesn’t offer a post-graduate work visa (since OPT is an extension of the F-1 student visa), and there is no specialized pathway to permanent residency for graduates of American schools, so international students rely on OPT and H-1B to work in the US Unfortunately, these are not long-term or reliable options.
So, where are students going instead?
Countries that the US competes with economically are stepping up their recruiting efforts. In 2018 and 2019, both Canada and Australia saw double-digit growth in their population of international students. Canada has introduced category-based draws that target specific professions, particularly in STEM fields. Canada’s international student population has tripled over the last decade, in part because of tempting policies that streamline pathways to permanent residency for folks who have education and work experience in Canada. The importance of STEM-specific draws within Canada’s Express Entry system cannot be overstated, as they prioritize candidates based on work experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
There were 572,415 international students in Canada in 2018 and this number keeps growing — Canada saw an overall increase of 73% between 2014 and 2018. So while the US has long been a destination for international students, many of these students are now looking to Canada.
The benefits of studying at a Canadian STEM program from an employment perspective in STEM occupations
Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa all rank in CBRE’s top 20 tech talent markets in North America, and this has a lot to do with Canada being home to more than 2.8 million STEM graduates and the world’s highest educated workforce.
The Canadian government is committed to investing in critical STEM skills and securing Canada’s future in tech, which means that the demand for STEM workers is predicted to expand. In Ontario alone, there are 35 university programs that offer a variety of paths into the tech industry including software engineering, computer engineering, and computer programming.
There are also many Canadian universities that offer specialized STEM programs. Software developers are a significant part of the broader STEM workforce in Canada, contributing to economic growth and technological advancement.
The University of Waterloo at Southern Ontario is the only school in Canada that has an autonomous vehicle with autonomous-driving software built in-house; Seneca College in Ontario has a four-year program that’s the only aviation technology-based degree program in Canada, and the University of Calgary allows students to conduct in-field testing of technologies like CO2 measurement and environmental monitoring.
Expanding STEM higher education has helped to boost Canada’s technology industry. Currently, Canada is home to more than 41,500 tech companies and nearly one million tech jobs. And this number is growing! Specific draws conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the STEM Express Entry system target candidates from STEM occupations, providing a pathway for qualified professionals to immigrate to Canada.
Eligibility for Express Entry
You must be eligible for Express Entry
To be eligible for Express Entry, you must meet the requirements of one of the three programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Each program has its own set of criteria, including specific work experience, education, and language ability requirements. For instance, the FSWP focuses on skilled workers with foreign work experience, the FSTP targets skilled tradespeople, and the CEC is designed for those with Canadian work experience. Meeting the eligibility criteria for one of these programs is the first step towards entering the Express Entry system.
Your primary occupation must be in a STEM occupation
To qualify for Express Entry, your primary occupation must be in a STEM field. This includes a wide range of professions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Whether you are a software developer, data scientist, or engineer, your occupation must align with the STEM categories. These fields are highly valued in Canada due to their critical role in driving innovation and economic growth. By focusing on STEM occupations, Canada ensures it attracts top talent to support its burgeoning tech industry.
You must have relevant work experience
Having relevant work experience in your primary occupation is crucial for Express Entry eligibility. This experience must be recent, typically within the past 10 years, and directly related to a STEM occupation. The Canadian immigration system places a high value on practical, hands-on experience in your field, as it demonstrates your ability to contribute effectively to the Canadian workforce. Ensuring your work experience is well-documented and aligns with your chosen STEM occupation will strengthen your Express Entry profile.
How to Apply for Express Entry Draws
Enter Your Profile To The Express Entry Pool
To apply for Express Entry draws, you must first enter your profile into the Express Entry pool. This involves creating an online profile where you provide detailed information about your work experience, education, language ability, and other qualifications. You will also need to upload essential documents, such as your passport, birth certificate, and language test results. Once your profile is complete, it will be entered into the Express Entry pool, where you will be ranked against other candidates based on your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The CRS score is a critical factor in the Express Entry system, as it determines your ranking and likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence. By ensuring your profile is accurate and complete, you enhance your chances of success in the Express Entry draws.
Canadian STEM programs are a strong pathway to permanent residence through employment
With programs like Canada’s Global Skills Strategy, skilled tech professionals can secure work permits in as little as two weeks. The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) further enables international students to work in Canada for up to three years after graduation, providing a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship.
Canada has embraced international students, opening up more opportunities for them to study and build careers compared to restrictive immigration policies in the U.S. Programs like Express Entry now include STEM-specific draws, prioritizing skilled workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics based on work experience, making immigration to Canada easier for tech professionals worldwide.
So if you’re an international student or skilled tech worker, Canada is offering clear pathways to education, career growth, and even citizenship. Reach out to Path to Canada to learn how you can make the move and build your future here.