October 2025
Spotlight on data and research
Global classrooms: Changing patterns in postsecondary student flows between Canada and the United States
Cross-border education serves as both a driver of innovation and a measure of talent flows in North America. This study compares recent trends in the number of students at the bachelor’s and graduate levels from Canada to the United States and from the United States to Canada.
The number of study permit holders with US citizenship intending to study at the undergraduate or graduate level in Canada gradually increased from about 5,000 in 2000 to 11,000 in 2019, before declining to around 10,000 in the early 2020s. In comparison, the annual number of Canadian undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the United States has fluctuated between 21,500 and 27,400 since the early 2000s.
About 65% of Canadian students returned to Canada after studying in the United States in recent years, compared with about 50% a decade earlier.
Skill underutilization among immigrant women with a nursing education
This study shows that many internationally educated nurses (IENs) are underutilized workers. According to 2021 Census data, about 50% of immigrant women from the Korean or Japanese population groups and 53% of those from the Chinese population group had a health occupation, and thus one-half of these IENs had jobs that made no use of their nursing education. IENs from other population groups fared better, since between 62% (Latin American) and 83% (Black) had a health occupation. Even when employed in a health occupation, many IENs were employed in jobs that underutilized their skills. Depending on their population group, between 35% and 62% of IENs had a job that matched their education.
Insights
Recent developments in the Canadian economy: Fall 2025
This article provides an integrated summary of recent changes in output, consumer prices, employment, and household finances. It highlights movements in the economic data during the first half of 2025 and into the summer months. The article examines how economic conditions have changed as trade tensions between Canada the United States continue to unfold.
After supporting economic growth as trade tensions escalated in the first quarter, exports scaled back in the second quarter as gross domestic product fell 0.4%, the largest quarterly contraction in nine years outside of the pandemic period. Imports and business outlays on machinery and equipment also pulled back in the second quarter as U.S. tariffs and uncertainty weighed on economic activity. Much of the decrease in economy-wide output in the second quarter reflected lower activity among manufacturers and wholesalers as U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and autos were in effect.
Employment growth stalled in the first half of 2025 as uncertainty weighed on hiring intentions while layoff rates remained similar to levels reported in 2024.
Research article
The impact of layoffs on labour market outcomes of workers in industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports
Trade tensions between Canada and the United States, which began in early 2025, have raised concerns about workers in industries who depend on U.S. demand for Canadian exports. Using data from the Longitudinal Worker File, this study found that around 70% of workers who were laid off from these industries over the 2013-to-2016 period found paid employment in the year following job loss. About 69% of re-employed men and 76% of re-employed women had transitioned away from these industries.
Earnings of workers who were laid off from industries dependent on U.S. demand decreased by 42% for men and 50% for women in the year following job loss compared to two years prior to the layoff. This compares with relative earnings losses of 32% for men and 37% for women who were laid off from other industries (excluding public administration, educational services, and health care and social assistance).
Related publications
Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series
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