Understanding Job Status Decline among Newcomers to Canada
Abstract
Problems related to the recognition of skills and education acquired by immigrants abroad and their ability to translate them into similar work and income in Canada are well-known. This paper attempts to quantify, insofar as possible the mismatch between education and skills attained abroad by comparing pre-arrival and post-arrival job statuses amongst newcomers to Canada who have been in the country for five years or less. Our results reveal that there is, in fact, a significant decline in job status for newcomers, which is influenced by province of residence, place of education attainment, and length of time in Canada.
Notes
Key recommendations
Call to recognition of foreign education and skills
Key findings
Visible minority immigrants are significantly more likely to experience difficulty finding work because of a lack of Canadian experience.
Over 50 percent of immigrants experience job status decline after their arrival in Canada.
Newcomers also experience racism is embedded within the Canadian labour market.
The idea that inferior education and/or lack of English or French language proficiency are the major factors that account for the lower labour market returns of recently arrived immigrants is not supported by evidence.
Gaps identified
NA
Community organizations
NA
Location
Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC, Manitoba
Key populations
Newcomers
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
newly arrived immigrants, defined as those arriving in Canada five years ago or less
Open-access – No