Half of Canadians Eyeing a Move to the U.S. Are Now Rethinking Their Plans Amid Political and Trade Tensions

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humi, Canada’s trusted employment platform, today released new poll data with insights from over 1,500 Canadians on their likelihood of building a career in the U.S. The poll reveals a timely opportunity for Canadian businesses to attract more talent: many Canadians who have considered moving to the U.S. for their career are having second thoughts in light of Donald Trump’s re-election and the ongoing tariff war.

"Talent is a company’s greatest asset, and with Canadians re-considering moving their careers to the U.S., businesses have an exciting opportunity to attract local talent over the next four years," says Kevin Kliman.

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Canada has long suffered from brain drain, with top Canadian talent moving their careers south of the border for higher pay, better perks and greater potential for career progression, among other incentives. This continued loss of talent is a significant detriment to the Canadian economy as it diminishes productivity and limits the potential for innovation.

COMPENSATION DRIVING THE DRAIN
The survey found that over one in five Canadians (21%) with a university education or higher have considered moving to the U.S. for their career in the past five years. Younger generations have contemplated moving to the U.S. for their careers at significantly higher rates than older generations: 29 per cent of Gen Z and 23 per cent of Millennials have considered the relocation, compared to 17 per cent of Gen X and 5 per cent of Boomers.

Among Canadians who have considered moving to the U.S., the top two motivators are higher compensation (31%) and lower taxes (29%).

“Unfortunately, these findings don’t come as a surprise as the Canadian government and companies have long struggled to reverse the trend of brain drain,” says Kevin Kliman, co-founder of Humi. However, the recent election of Donald Trump and the tariff war present a unique opportunity to reverse the brain drain to Canada’s gain.

IMPACT OF TRUMP AND TARIFFS
Donald Trump’s recent election has introduced several protectionist policies that have given many Canadians pause about moving their career to the States. Among Canadians who have considered relocating to the U.S. in the past five years, slightly more than half (52%) report that the election of Donald Trump as president has lowered their likelihood to consider moving to the U.S. in the next four years. Similarly, half (51%) have reported that the new tariffs imposed by the U.S. have lowered their likelihood to consider moving.

"Talent is a company’s greatest asset, and with Canadians re-considering moving their careers to the U.S., businesses have an exciting opportunity to attract local talent over the next four years," says Kevin Kliman. "However, to make the most of this moment long term, employers need to focus on retaining the talent they win over, elevating their employment experience and investing in their people."

HOW CANADIAN COMPANIES CAN MAXIMIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY
Canadian businesses must create an environment where their teams know they will thrive with clear career opportunities and competitive compensation packages. Here are four key strategies to help employers stand out in today’s evolving labour market.

1. Competitive benefits packages: Through partnering with employee benefit providers, SMEs now have access to competitive benefits packages once reserved for large corporations. They can now affordably offer their employees health benefits, retirement plans, and other perks that enhance their attractiveness as employers and improve the financial security and well-being of their teams. To make the most of this, ask your employees what they could most benefit from, so you know what benefits to prioritize.
2. Prioritize business and career conversations: Dedicate check-in time to connect individual career goals with business needs. This 'win-win' increases engagement and motivation, strengthening your Canadian business's appeal as a top career destination and yielding long-term success.
3. Use modern technology with an enjoyable interface: The tools employees rely on play a crucial role in their job satisfaction and productivity. Investing in modern, intuitive technology with user-friendly interfaces is essential to empowering your team and improving their day-to-day work experience.
4. Compliance is key: To ensure compliance and offer employees a reliable payroll system, invest in an employment platform built for the Canadian market and the nuances of each province/territory the business operates in.

“While companies can rise to the occasion and take advantage of this reverse brain drain, Canada also needs policy changes to reverse the trend long-term,” continues Kliman. “As a co-founder in the Canadian employment space, I also know first-hand that some aspects driving brain drain are out of companies’ hands, so we must work alongside policy-makers to drive change.”

Humi’s complete data findings are available upon request.

About Humi
Humi is the only employment platform for Canadian businesses. We know running a business is more than just paperwork and tasks – we make it easy to care for businesses and those who bring them to life. We’re the best choice for supporting Canadian businesses in being better employers with a unified payroll, HR, and benefits solution. To learn more about Humi, visit www.humi.ca.

Survey Methodology
These findings are from a survey conducted by Humi from April 7th to April 9th, 2025, among a representative sample of 1515 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.