Executive summary
Prepared for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Supplier Name: Environics Research
Registration Number: POR 133-18
Contract Number: B8815-190400/001/CY
Contract Value: $122,290.24 (including HST)
Award Date: 2019-03-06
Delivery Date: 2019-05-14
For more information on this report, please contact IRCC at:
IRCC.COMMPOR-ROPCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
Ce rapport est aussi disponible en français.
This public opinion research report presents the results of a quantitative online survey and a qualitative online community conducted by Environics Research on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The survey was conducted with 520 Canadian youth and the community was conducted with 80 Canadian youth in March 2019.
Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Étude sur les jeunes d’Expérience internationale Canada (EIC) 2018-19
This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from IRCC. For more information on this report, please contact IRCC at:
IRCC.COMMPOR-ROPCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca or at:
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Jean Edmonds Tower South
365 Laurier Ave W
Ottawa ON K1A 1L1
Catalogue Number:
Ci4-194/2019E-PDF
International Standard Book Number (ISBN):
978-0-660-31523-2
Related publications (registration number: POR 026-18):
Catalogue Number Ci4-194/2019F-PDF (Final Report, French)
ISBN 978-0-660-31524-9
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2019.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a program managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which offers Canadian citizen youth aged 18-35 the opportunity to travel and work in one of over 30 partner countries/territories. Though the program aims to be reciprocal with its partners, participation in the program by Canadian youth is not as strong as our partner countries. IEC has a targeted stakeholder engagement and promotion plan in place, with the goal of increasing awareness of opportunities abroad, and increasing Canadian youth participation in the program.
With this broader goal in mind, the primary objective of this research is to evaluate knowledge of the IEC program among its target audiences. More specifically, the objectives of the research include measuring:
Insights about perceived barriers and motivators to pursuing work abroad experiences will inform policy and allow targeted engagement and promotion. The survey results will also be used to inform corporate performance reporting requirements (such as Performance Information Profiles and associated Performance Measurement Strategy Framework) for the IEC program.
To meet the research objectives, both quantitative and qualitative research was conducted. The quantitative phase consisted of an online survey which screened for youth with previous international work/study/volunteer experience. The qualitative phase was conducted with youth who would be eligible for the IEC program but who do not necessarily have international work/study/volunteer experience.
A more detailed methodology is presented in Appendix A of this report.
Statement of limitations: Qualitative research provides insight into the range of opinions held within a population, rather than the weights of the opinions held, as measured in a quantitative survey. The results of the qualitative research should be viewed as indicative rather than projectable to the population.
Since online panel surveys are not a random probability samples, no formal estimates of sampling error can be calculated. Although not employing a random probability samples, online surveys can be used for general population surveys provided they are well designed and employ a large, well-maintained panel.
The contract value was $122,290.24 (HST included).
Participants show a general preoccupation with travelling that elicits strong positive emotional responses and often describe themselves as ‘travel enthusiasts.’ For some, affordability influences their perception of travel, leading to frustration with the financial constraints that prevent them from pursuing it. Only rarely do they mention wariness about negative events such as terrorism, violence or natural disasters.
Most participants have at least some international travel experience. English speakers are more interested in Asia and Australia as desired future travel destinations, while French speakers tend toward locations in the U.S. Reasons given for these destinations include discovering their heritage/visiting family, satisfying their curiosity about certain cultures, exploring history/art or simply having an adventure.
Immersion in another culture and achieving personal growth are underlying motivations to study or work abroad. Participants value ‘stepping outside of their comfort zone’ and the enrichment and perspective it would provide them. Living abroad provides a greater opportunity to learn than leisure travel and many feel it would be valued by employers and enhance their employment prospects in Canada. Developing personal connections and the possibility of new friendships are also benefits.
Two broad groups can be defined by their travel motivations: Experientialists who desire new experiences that influence their mind-set and Escapists who desire to escape daily life and to enjoy leisure. Further analysis reveals four segments, three of which are subsets of the experientialists:
The final segment consists of escapists:
Some participants are open to working/studying/volunteering abroad, but it is often not front of mind when they discuss travel. Participants say they would consider it if the opportunity presented itself, but it is generally a more passive consideration than an active interest. Living abroad is associated both with the excitement of having new experiences and the fear of leaving their familiar, established lives. Overall, there is less eagerness to work/study/volunteer than to travel abroad, though experientialists more often express enthusiasm about it than escapists.
The major barrier mentioned is affordability. Participants often cite a lack of employment, limited savings and student (and other) debt as problems. Language barriers are also potentially overwhelming, especially among those who are not confident in their language skills. This is seen as being likely to compound other potential issues including gaining stable employment. Finding work is seen as a barrier for several reasons: a perception that working abroad requires one to go through a complex application process, concerns about the transferability of qualifications/skills or a lack of employable skills. Social disconnection and separation from family are also barriers. Fear of social isolation is especially common among introverts who worry about making social connections.
There is a general lack of awareness of the IEC program: most participants are unaware of it and what it offers. Those who are familiar usually hear about it from friends/family or from looking into work abroad opportunities themselves. Many find the program interesting and feel that more information/knowledge about the program would make them more inclined to participate, but that their participation would be contingent on overcoming the common barriers (language, employment and finances). Others say their current life circumstances (children, career, etc.) prevent them from participating.
Participants from the population sub-groups of interest are equally enthusiastic about travel as general population participants and are no more or less likely to be interested in studying/working/ volunteering abroad. They share similar views about the benefits of the experience and foresee the same challenges already mentioned above, but also point out some which are unique to their experience. For people with mobility impairments, accommodation is a challenge and there is serious concern about reliable access to medical care among those taking medications. Those with mental health issues like anxiety and depression face barriers due to existing struggles with isolation and many say that living aboard would mean disconnecting from their support networks. Although cultural attitudes (and what they may mean for their personal safety) are major considerations for LGBTQ2+ youth and women, they also mention the same barriers as other groups.
The demographic profile of Canadian youth who have obtained a visa or permit to work, study or volunteer outside of Canada skews toward males and people from Ontario relative to the census population of Canadian citizens aged 18-35. Less than a third of those who obtained a visa/work permit say they participated in the IEC program. A little more than half obtained a visa to study, a little less than half to work and only around a third did so to volunteer (people could get more than one type).
International travel experience is viewed positively by those who obtained a visa/work permit or participated in the IEC program: it leads to personal growth, learning experiences and exploration. The most common challenges faced were language barriers, financial concerns and isolation. Many in this group see future travel for leisure purposes as a near certainty, while sizeable proportions say they are very likely to work (34%), study (24%) or volunteer (22%) internationally in the future. Few say it is unlikely that they would do these things in the future but studying abroad is the option that the fewest people said they would likely do.
More than half (55%) say they know at least a little bit about the IEC program but a third have never heard of it. Among those who are unaware of IEC, two in five are interested in more information; they are most interested in getting information via a general internet search. Former participants are very satisfied with their IEC experience, saying it was a great life experience and that would recommend it to their friends and family.
A slim majority of those with a past international work/study/volunteer experience say they are likely to participate in a program like IEC in the future; those who do not say they are likely to participate in the future most often cite family or financial/career commitments.
I hereby certify as senior officer of Environics that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, and Procedures for Planning and Contracting Public Opinion Research. Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.
Tony Coulson
Group VP - Corporate & Public Affairs
Environics Research Group
tony.coulson@environics.ca
613-699-6882
Supplier name: Environics Research Group
PWGSC contract number: B8815-190400/001/CY
Original contract date: 2019-03-06
For more information, contact IRCC at IRCC.COMMPOR-ROPCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca