Poll shows support for immigration of Asian workers with STEM skills

Many Canadians support the immigration of skilled workers from Asia, especially ones who have a background in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, concludes the Asia Pacific Foundation’s latest 2019 poll.

But the poll also finds a significant level of opposition to the idea and said that view needs to be dealt with by government.

A random survey of more than 1,520 Canadian adults found 53 per cent think the “benefits outweigh concerns regarding Asian talent immigration,” the report said. But “a sizable 36 per cent … feel otherwise.”

“It’s important to look at the concerns raised here. We need to address them,” said Sreyoshi Dey, program manager, surveys and polling, at the Vancouver non-profit that focuses on building ties, especially economic ones, between Canada and Asia.

The report concluded some of the primary concerns of those surveyed about recruiting Asian talent “are increased labour market competition and foreign influence on Canadian culture.”

“Policies extending Canadian workers’ job protection would mitigate the impact of changes in the labour market and further protect Canadians who are vulnerable to international competition.

“In cases of concern about Asian influence on Canadian culture … actions can be taken to promote Canadian culture and values among incoming international workers through social integration practices, education, and training, thereby enabling them to adapt to life in Canada. On the other hand, the concerns about Asian influence on Canadian culture may be driven by a lack of awareness and could be alleviated … through education and other public programs,” said the report.

The poll showed that the Canadians surveyed were less receptive to immigration of talented workers from China than from other countries in Asia. However, Dey and others at the Asia Pacific Foundation were surprised the gap wasn’t wider, considering the trade war between the United States and China and the bilateral tension between Canada and China stemming from the Canadian arrest of the chief financial officer of China’s Huawei Technologies Co. at the request of the U.S.

Highly educated workers with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering or mathematics from China received support from 65 per cent of those polled, but this figure was also below those posted by workers of the same kind from the other Asian countries. But Dey pointed out that only three per cent of those surveyed think that place of birth should be a priority when recruiting international talent and only nine per cent think it should matter when recruiting internationally for STEM skills.

Forty per cent of survey respondents said Canada should focus its immigration policy on individual characteristics while 58 per cent said Canada should give priority to at least one characteristic of the immigrants’ origin country and not just individual characteristics.