Immigration and Unemployment in Canada and Australia

Abstract

Since the end of World War II, Canada and Australia have both pursued positive immigration policies designed to augment natural increase through net migration and to meet specific manpower shortages. However, Canada much more than Australia has been faced with a dilemma in trying to reconcile the continuing flow of immigration with significant fluctuations in the economy and comparatively high levels of unemployment. In both countries, sympathy for the plight of refugees has been tempered by concern for their effective economic integration and the fear that immigrants will be competing with new entrants to the labour force, particularly young people.