According to federal immigration statistics, British Columbia has seen a 20% decline in economic immigration over the past five years. At the same time, according to forecasts from the Ministry of Labour, the province's labor market will experience a significant shortage of skilled workers over the next decade, especially in information technology and healthcare.
On the recommendation of the Premier's Technology Council of British Columbia, a three-year pilot project was launched in mid-2010 aimed at supporting foreign graduates and their employment. To become eligible for immigration, foreign applicants must have a master's or doctoral degree in natural sciences, applied sciences, or healthcare, obtained from a post-secondary institution in the province.
To date, 734 people have used the program. 67% of them found jobs and 24% continued their studies (mainly to obtain a PhD degree). 88% found jobs in their field. In 2012, the average income of those employed through the program was $45,645. 93% of program participants remained in British Columbia for permanent residence.
Based on materials from ЦМК «Парта».