In Canada, the integration of internationally-trained workers into the labour force is a pressing issue. As is the case with other industrialized nations, Canada’s economy faces the challenges of labour shortages, increasing need for skilled workers, the globalization of labour markets, and rapid demographic change. Industrialized nations today are competing with each other to recruit and retain internationally-trained workers—valuable human resources that can help economies facing labour shortages, increasing need for more skilled workers, and rapid demographic and technological changes.
In Canada, the situation is urgent. Due to demographic changes, it is predicted that immigrants will account for 100% of net labour force growth by the end of this decade. However, it has been estimated that Canada currently loses approximately 30% of its new and highly skilled arrivals because they are unable to integrate into the economy and in communities. In 2006, the national unemployment rate for immigrants was 11.5%, more than double the rate of 4.9% for those Canadian-born. Immigrants find work, but only 42% work in their intended occupations. These historically weak integration patterns remain systemically persistent and appear to be getting worse.
Various studies have shown that the successful integration of internationally-trained workers is affected by:
- poor preparation prior to immigrating,
- weak proficiency in the language of work,
- necessary requirements for Canadian work experience,
- non-recognition of prior experience and qualifications, and
- lack of appropriate social supports and networks to gain access to employment.
Since the recognition of prior experience and qualifications is key to bringing into play the full potential of the internationally trained worker in the Canadian labour force, the term Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) is often used broadly to encompass the range of issues associated with the integration of internationally trained workers in the workforce.
The following links provide more information on the issue:
This section of the website hireimmigrants.ca, an initiative of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, explains the business drivers for hiring immigrants.
- Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council press kit
The press kit available at this site provides useful backgrounders and fact sheets on immigration, immigrants, and labour markets.
- Looking Ahead Initiative Employer Resource Guide: Chapter 2, The Business Case
This chapter in the Employer Resource Guide produced by The Looking Ahead Initiative, a community-based project in British Columbia, explains why diverse hiring practices are good business practices.
- Take a Look at What’s Working: Internationally Trained Workers in Canada.
Report from Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
This report presents cases of companies in Ontario that have successfully hired internationally-trained workers.
- Handbook on Immigration & Skill Shortages, Canadian Labour & Business Centre
This handbook draws attention to the factors affecting successful integration and utilization of immigrant skills, and to aspects of Canada’s immigration policies and practices.
- Pan-Canadian Sector Council & Immigrant Dialogue: Barriers Affecting the Integration of Non-Regulated Occupation Immigrants into the Canadian Labour Market
This report describes findings of a project led by the The Canadian Coalition of Community-Based Employability Training (CCCBET) that identified specific issues and barriers preventing the integration of non-regulated occupation immigrants and refugees into the Canadian workforce, and that held a national event, “The Dialogue” between Sector Councils and immigrant serving agencies, to promote networking, sharing of information, and partnerships.