A latest poll shows that Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, and his isolationist policies are "shattering" the dreams of many Canadians who once considered moving south to the United States. However, for Canadian businesses, this is an excellent opportunity, with the potential to attract and retain local and international talents over the next four years.

A survey conducted jointly by employment software platform Humi and the Angus Reid Institute in April this year found that among Canadians who have considered moving to the United States in the past five years, 52% said their willingness to relocate to the U.S. within the next four years has decreased after Trump's re-election as president. Additionally, 51% of respondents also admitted that the U.S.'s new tariff policies have deterred them.

The sample size of the poll exceeded 1,500 people, reflecting the shift in mindsets of Canadians when weighing whether to move south.

During Trump's first term, his close ties with Silicon Valley once sparked concerns about the outflow of Canadian tech talent. However, now, the increasingly confrontational "America First" foreign policy in both trade and diplomacy has become the main reason for many Canadians to abandon their plans to move south.

Meanwhile, a "northward trend" is emerging in the U.S. For example, Timothy Snyder, a renowned scholar at Yale University and an expert on authoritarianism and Ukraine, has already left the U.S. and is currently teaching at the University of Toronto on a long-term basis.

In the context of reduced federal funding for universities in the U.S. and tightened visa policies for international students, Canadian universities are experiencing a surge in applications. This applies not only to students but also to American scientists and healthcare professionals who are actively exploring the possibility of relocating to Canada.

Kevin Kliman, co-founder and CEO of Humi, pointed out: "For Canadian companies, this is a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity, and the next four years will be a critical window for attracting and retaining talent."

He noted that although last year's proposed capital gains tax in Canada led many high-income individuals to consider leaving the country, Trump's recent comments about a "51st state" and his increasingly confrontational attitude toward Canada have prompted many to reconsider the value of staying in Canada.

Kliman suggested that Canadian companies should promptly enhance employee benefits, strengthen career development support, making "staying" more attractive than "going south." He also reminded that Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises are still lagging behind the U.S. by four to five years in terms of technology application, and urged them to accelerate digital transformation, which will also help retain talent.

For a long time, Canada has been a major source of talent for key industries such as high-tech and engineering in the United States. In the past, the main drivers for Canadians choosing to move south included higher salaries, lower taxes, and better career development opportunities.

The survey also found that in the past five years, about one-fifth of Canadians with university degrees or above have considered moving to the U.S. to develop. Among them, Generation Z (29%) and millennials (23%) showed significantly higher consideration rates compared to Generation X (17%) and baby boomers (5%).

According to a 2021 study by the Narwhal Project, approximately 10% of Canadian STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates move to the U.S. after graduation. Informal statistics show that in 2022, as much as 71% of graduates from the software engineering program at the University of Waterloo accepted job offers from the U.S.

However, various signs indicate that this "talent outflow" trend may reverse after Trump's return. For Canada, this is not only a strategic opportunity period of "danger and opportunity," but also a crucial node for promoting domestic economic structural optimization, technological innovation, and talent development.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497446301269787190/

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