Canada will admit more than 40,000 immigrants in 2021 than it expects to accept this year, Ahmed Hussen, Immigration Minister said on Wednesday.

This will increase by nearly one per cent of the population of the country.

Counting all classes of new arrivals, the target rises every twelve months from 310,000 this year.

On Wednesday, the figures were announced as part of the government’s updated multi-year immigration levels plan.

The newcomers are coming under the economic programs designed to deal with skills shortages and gaps in the labour market.

Economic immigration is badly needed in areas across the country that is short on workers and long on older residents, said Hussen.

Many economic groups and immigration advocates, also the economic advisory council of the federal government, have called for Canada to intake even more immigrants.