Local solutions to national issues: skilled Immigrants and the Canadian labour market.

Current concerns about the state and future of the economy is a common issue among global cities. In Canada, that includes the role that skilled immigrants will have in securing Canada’s economic growth.

According to Canada’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, “The reality is that immigrants could account for virtually all labour force growth in Canada within the next decade.”

Baby boomer retirement and a skills deficit in the current labour market means that Canada will have as many as 425, 000 jobs opening up and employers will be looking for skilled immigrants to fill these jobs.

However, even when skilled immigrants are available to meet demand, a gap remains between the skills that many newcomers have to offer and the number of job offers they actually receive. For instance, between 50 and 60 per cent of Canadian newcomers are working in fields other than what they trained for. Further, two-thirds of skilled immigrants report they have been told they will require further education in Canada in order to obtain professional jobs here (Citizenship and Immigration Canada).

Recommendations for the reform of Canada’s policies on skilled immigration and related issues were recently tabled by Naomi Alboim, Maytree Policy Fellow, in Adjusting the Balance: Fixing Canada’s Economic Immigration Policies.  The report recommends that the federal government articulate a national vision for economic immigration in which a revised Federal Skilled Worker Program becomes the priority.

Addressing the skills gap

Skills recognition is one of the issues, but there are others. Immigrants often lack the professional or personal networks that enable them to hear about or be considered for opportunities.

In Canada, organizations like the Toronto Regional Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) are trying to overcome this barrier by connecting skilled immigrants with their employed counterparts to help build their social and occupational capital.

In Montreal, short term mentioning is offered by the Montreal Board of Trade to help introduce immigrants to smaller and mid-size companies that may not be aware of the market for skilled immigrants. The program also offers support for employers to help them retain diverse talent.

Overcoming the challenge of the skilled immigrant gap in Canadian cities, will also be easier when corporate leadership becomes more reflective of the city population and workforce. DiverseCity onBoard is a Toronto based program that is working to do this by “match making” pre-screened, qualified candidates from diverse communities with board opportunities with organisations and agencies from across the city.

For a recent analysis of diversity in city leadership in Toronto, please see the DiverseCity Counts project, a three year benchmarking study that sets high expectations for urban leadership in Canada’s economic capital.