Which jobs are most popular among international graduates in Canada?

According to Statistics Canada (StatCan), foreign graduates with bachelor's degrees primarily work in sales and service, while those with postgraduate degrees tend to pursue careers in engineering and information technology (IT).

StatCan did not disclose the number of respondents but noted that the study tracked graduates from 2020 across all levels, from college to doctoral degrees, who remained in Canada for three years after graduation.

Overall, 28.3% of international graduates worked in sales and service, followed by 24% in business, finance, and administration, and 20.7% in natural and applied sciences.

Among bachelor's degree holders, no other field attracted more than 10% of graduates, with natural resources, agriculture, and forestry reporting the lowest participation rate at just 0.2%.

Job preferences vary by education level. Sales and service is the most common sector for college and bachelor's graduates, while science, engineering, and IT leads for master's and doctoral holders.

These results reflect international students' career choices in Canada.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) from 2018 to 2023, the highest number of study permits, 316,000 to 428,000, were issued in business, economics, and information technology, while permits in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries programs remained under 10,000.

The StatCan survey also found that foreign students earn lower annual salaries compared to domestic students.

International bachelor's graduates earn around CA$52,000 (US$36,660), roughly 20% less than Canadian students at CA$65,200. At the master's level, the figure is CA$70,000, a 16.6% lower.

Researchers explain this gap in part by noting the high proportion of international graduates working in sales and service, which typically offers wages below the national average.

According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), by the end of 2023, there were over one million international students in Canada.

Nearly 400,000 held a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), marking a 35% increase. Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that international students contributed CA$30.9 billion in 2022, accounting for 1.2% of the country's GDP.

Students at the University of Toronto, Canada. Photo courtesy of the university

Over the past year, IRCC has repeatedly revised its policies to manage immigration numbers. In September 2024, Canada announced it would grant 437,000 study permits in 2025, about 10% fewer than the previous year.

The financial proof requirement increased to over CA$20,600, double the longstanding CA$10,000 requirement.

In November, the government ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which had expedited visas for students from 14 countries and territories without requiring proof of finances.

Applicants for a PGWP must now submit English or French language certification under Canada's 12-level language benchmark system. University graduates need at least Level 7, while college graduates need Level 5 or higher, equivalent to B2 and B1, respectively, under the European framework.

The number of international students arriving in Canada is projected to drop by 45% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to ApplyBoard, the world's largest online platform for international student recruitment.

The company, which analyzed IRCC data, said the decline reflects the impact of stricter study permit policies and the new financial and work eligibility requirements.