Migration and integration policies for high-skilled professionals: The case of migrants from India in Canada and the USA

Migration is a global phenomenon that has historically altered economies and civilizations. Countries adopt migration strategies to attract migrants based on their needs and interests. As governments compete to attract talented professionals, highly skilled migration, defined by formal qualifications, has attracted substantial attention. Despite the benefits of migration, especially high-skilled, mismatches and underutilization of qualification remain common among migrants, due mostly to gaps between migrants human capital transferability from the home country to the host country. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between migration and integration policy and the labor market outcomes of migrants in Canada and the United States of America (USA), and the influence of individual factors on it focusing on the largest diaspora of highly skilled migrants: India. It is argued that successful migration and integration policies can alleviate brain waste while also promoting positive social and economic developments in the host country. The countries chosen, Canada and the USA, are two main destination countries for Indian migrants that share significant similarities but different migration policies priorities, targets, and structures. This thesis aims to understand the relationship between migration and integration policies and their influence on migrants' labor market outcomes, especially focusing on the case of migrants from India. The findings of this research highlight the necessity of a comprehensive migration and integration policies and the necessity of a continuous process between them in order to ensure positive labor market outcomes for migrants. It also shows how individual aspects such as age, educational level, country of education and gender play an important role in these outcomes, including the ones of Indians. Furthermore, understanding the complex relationship between migration and integration policies and labor market outcomes gives important insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in developing and evaluating these policies. Overall, the findings are intended to guide evidence-based policy decisions that encourage successful labor-market integration, strengthen social cohesion, and maximize the contributions of migrants, especially high-skilled ones, in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere.