In a recent report by GTN News, it has been revealed that among those invited to immigrate to Canada through the Atlantic immigration program and the provincial nominee program in 2023, approximately one in four people listed occupations in food and accommodation services, while another 10% were in retail. Only 1.5% were in construction. This information adds to the existing concerns in Canada, where the high cost of living and rental shortages are causing many immigrants to consider leaving the country. The rate of immigrants leaving Canada is now at a two-decade high, which could undermine the government's efforts to grant permanent residency to a record number of people [23b9c304].
The province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) has faced criticism from the opposition parties, the Liberals and the Greens, for not effectively targeting immigration to meet critical needs in industries such as construction and healthcare. The Greens also highlighted the lack of services for both established islanders and newcomers. However, a policy analyst at the Atlantic Economic Council noted that the list of immigrant occupations aligns well with Service Canada's projections of job openings on the island, particularly in truck driving, retail, and cooking. The article also mentions that PEI's low wages and the difficulty of obtaining professional licenses in certain fields may contribute to labor shortages. The report concludes by suggesting that the province could pay higher wages to attract and retain workers and utilize the existing workforce more effectively [23b9c304].