Not sure I agree with you on your statement "....next to impossible to immigrate without employment offer...."

Just prior and during the start of the downturn in Alberta in 2014, it was common to hear or read about stories of recent arrivals to Canada (usually to Calgary & typically with an engineering degree) struggling to find skilled work. It always shocked me because I always thought that if I was moving to a new country, then it would probably be best to only do so with a firm job offer in hand. Even though the Harper-Cons tightened up the immigration rules, a lot of people still landed in this country without the hope of any solid employment. It didn't help that some individuals assumed that their professional credentials would be automatically recognized (& I don't believe they should be, nor should the bar be lowered). The system is broken & needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.