The impact of merit-based immigration systems and skilled worker visas

Merit-based immigration systems, like Canada's, have set a standard for attracting skilled immigrants to fill crucial jobs. Other countries including Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and now Germany have adopted similar systems due to their own labour shortages. Germany, facing a shortage of around two million workers across various industries, has implemented its own merit-based immigration system to address this urgent need. In contrast, the United States, with a significantly larger population, only admits 85,000 highly skilled workers per year, a fraction of Canada's intake. This limited access to skilled worker visas in the US has led to them being awarded through a lottery system, making them increasingly rare.