International immigration accounts almost entirely for New Brunswick’s new population growth, which has signaled a reversal of the population decline that began in the early 2000s.
In the last three and a half years, New Brunswick’s population has grown by over 16,000, compared to an increase of 254 in 2015. The latest Statistics Canada report shows a population increase of 5,906 over the previous 12 months, bringing the number of people in the province to a record high of 776,827.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot has played a significant role in the increase, allowing employers to hire foreign workers or international graduates for jobs when local workers aren’t available. Under the program, workers have faster access to permanent residency and help the local economy by filling gaps in the labour market.