Immigrant Retention in New Brunswick: 2023 Landing Cohort Update

Abstract

Immigrant retention remains an important area of study in New Brunswick as the province continues to welcome newcomers through a range of federal and provincial pathways. Using linked administrative data, this seventh update in DataNB’s long‑running immigrant retention series presents annual immigration and retention results for primary applicants who landed in the province between 2005 and 2023. The study examines landing volumes, retention over time, variation across immigration streams, and differences by source country and region of settlement.

The findings show continued growth in immigration to New Brunswick, with 4,400 primary applicants arriving in 2023. One‑year retention for this cohort reached 83.4%, the highest level observed in more than a decade. Results also highlight differences across immigration pathways, source countries, and regions within the province. As with previous editions, the analysis reflects the most recent data available.