How Do Labour Shortages, Artificial Intelligence, and Trump Tariffs Affect Businesses and Immigrant Hiring in Atlantic Canada?

This study draws on responses from 1,700 senior executives and business owners who participated in a national survey. Although the survey covers Canada broadly, our analysis focuses specifically on SMEs in Atlantic Canada to better understand how capacity constraints interact with the region’s unique socioeconomic landscape. We explore how labour-related challenges, shaped by evolving digital technologies and U.S. tariffs, are affecting skill demands, hiring practices, and organizational capacity and performance.

Policy Brief 1: Hiring Challenges and Immigrant Integration in Atlantic Canada