Fields of study and occupations of immigrants who were international students in Canada before immigration

This study explores the alignment between fields of study and occupations among international students who have become permanent residents in Canada. Using data from the 2021 Census of Population, the study examines the fields of study and occupations of immigrants with a postsecondary education who held study permits before becoming permanent residents from 2011 to 2021. It compares them with other immigrants who became permanent residents during the same period and Canadian-born postsecondary graduates. The focus is on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and computer science (STEM); health care; and business and administration. Among immigrants who were formerly international students in Canada, the degree of alignment between field of study and employment varied by field and level of study. It was lowest among those who studied STEM or business and administration in postsecondary programs below the bachelor’s level and highest among those with a bachelor’s degree from health care-related programs. The overall alignment rates between field of study and occupation among former international students were higher than those among immigrants who were not former international students. The role of Canadian education in increasing the degree of alignment between field of study and employment among immigrants was prominent when former international students attained their highest level of education in Canada.