A recent study has revealed Canada as the top destination for people seeking to move abroad for employment opportunities. According to data gathered by the job search platform Jobseeker, Canada emerged as the most popular country for relocation among all the nations reviewed. This trend was notably strong among job seekers from Costa Rica, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, who searched for employment options in Canada more frequently than any other country.
Following Canada, Australia ranked as the second most frequently searched country for work relocation. Switzerland and the United States shared the third position as preferred destinations among global job seekers.
Jobseeker conducted this analysis by studying social trends and job search behaviors worldwide from September 19 to 25. Using the search format “jobs in [Canada],” the platform tracked the relocation interest of residents across 30 countries. These 30 nations were selected based on their strong job markets and high GDP, criteria sourced from the U.S. News & World Report, to gain a broad perspective on international job-seeking trends.
According to the study, here are the top countries people are most interested in relocating to for work. The number beside each country indicates how often it was listed as a preferred destination by overseas job seekers from the 30 countries analyzed:
- Canada (8)
- United States (6)
- Switzerland (6)
- Australia (7)
- Denmark (2)
- United Kingdom (2)
- Saudi Arabia (2)
- Singapore (2)
- Japan (1)
- New Zealand (1)
- Spain (1)
- Qatar (1)
- Germany (1)
- Netherlands (1)
The study also found that most people in Canada searched for job opportunities in the United States.
Why Canada is the Top Destination for Skilled Workers?
The survey highlighted Canada’s Express Entry system—a management framework for the country’s primary federal immigration programs—as a major factor behind Canada’s strong appeal to international job seekers.
Express Entry simplifies the immigration process for skilled workers, selecting top-ranking candidates based on criteria like work experience, education, and language proficiency to invite them for permanent residency. This approach under Canada’s economic immigration programs prioritizes skilled candidates objectively, making the process highly competitive and attractive.
The employment success of immigrants in Canada also contributes to the country’s reputation as a sought-after destination. According to Statistics Canada data, the employment rates among working-age immigrants in 2023 were impressive:
- Immigrants who landed within the past five years: 77.8%
- Immigrants who arrived 5–10 years ago: 81.9%
- Immigrants who have been in Canada for over 10 years: 84.5%
Other factors noted by the study include Canada’s strong economy, public healthcare system, and multicultural society. Canada was also ranked the 4th best country globally in the 2024 U.S. News rankings, scoring 94.1 overall due to high marks in quality of life, entrepreneurship, social purpose, and adaptability.