(Bloomberg) -- Canada’s population grew at the fastest pace since around the height of the baby boom, with immigration responsible for nearly all of that growth.

The number of people living in Canada rose by 0.7%, or 284,982, to 38.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, according to Statistics Canada estimates released Wednesday in Ottawa. That’s the highest pace for quarterly growth since 1957 and represents an increase of about 3,100 people per day.

The latest estimates underscore Canada’s ambition in expanding its working-age population quickly by bringing in newcomers to replace aging workers who are leaving the labor force. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has set a target to bring in a record number of new permanent residents -- more than 1.3 million -- over the next three years.

Canada’s pace of population growth is the highest among the Group of Seven. Immigration has been one of the main drivers of the Canadian economy, and accounts for almost all of the nation’s employment growth.

From April 1 to July 1, international migration accounted for a gain of nearly 270,000 people, or 95% of the quarterly growth, the highest increase from international migration since comparable records have existed in 1971. This was in part due to high numbers of asylum claimants and permit holders, including people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The country’s population grew by 1.8% in the 12-month period that ended June 30. 

While Canada has welcoming immigration policies, many newcomers face difficulties getting jobs that match their skills and qualifications. Starting next year, the federal government plans to begin targeting newcomers in specific occupations to ensure better matching with industries suffering the most intense labor shortages.

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