Employment prospects of international students in the U.S. and Canada: Socio-political implications for colleges and universities

Abstract

While the increase of the international student population has been a significant issue on a global scale, it is rarely discussed in the context of two border countries in North America – the U.S. and Canada. In addition, attention to skilled migration as a policy preference has increased among governments in an effort to address labor market gaps arising from economic shifts and structural aging. Governments invent a list of desirable characteristics in international students, such as education, age, language, and work experience, that allows them to be able to apply for employment after graduation. Countries like Canada and Australia are able to retain these students after graduation while more restrictive U.S. policies have implications on international student decision-making and on American institutions of higher education. This article will explore the impact of immigration policies on higher education institutions’ efforts in the U.S. and Canada in attracting international students to their campuses as a result of national immigration laws and priorities.