Where are all the jobs?

Canada is often viewed as a place where newcomers can create a better life for themselves and their families and a place where everyone is taken care of; it is known as a country filled with opportunities. The only problem with this idealistic notion is that it isn’t entirely true for all immigrants and refugees. Although there exists a great need for skilled labour in Canada, due to the expansion of the industrial and high-tech fields, there also exists discrimination and prejudice against immigrants (George, 2003, p. 146). Immigrants, although many are highly skilled, can be seen as liabilities to companies; companies may fear that language is a barrier or that the individual does not have enough “Canadian experience” (Trichur, 2011).

The article Productivity woes aggravated by failure to hire new immigrants, describes how various forms of discrimination and prejudice deter many companies from hiring new immigrants, even though they need the skilled labour that many of these immigrants possess. Although there are policies in place that condemn discrimination in hiring practices, there are ways in which companies are able to circumvent these policies, whether they are making the conscious decision to do so or not. Canada is losing out on the skilled labourers it needs to keep the economy running, while new immigrants are suffering due to unjust hiring practices.

Since many skilled immigrants have trouble finding employment once they arrive, due to the hiring practices noted above, this compounded with the costs of immigrating more often than not this puts them below the poverty line. If they are continually turned down from potential job opportunities, then they may become at greater risk for staying in poverty, unable to break the cycle of discrimination. The immigration process for many individuals and families then is not up to the standards they expected when leaving their countries of origin; many end up feeling as though the promises they were made to expect about the opportunities for a better life were false. Too many immigrants may end up being worse off after immigrating, than they were when they left their countries of origin.

There are already social services that provide immigrants and refugees with skill/job training, and while these programs are useful to immigrants who wish to develop new skills, it does not help already skilled immigrants who are searching for a job. I believe that policies directed towards companies that promote the hiring of immigrants need to be created; the creation and implementation of policies that would give companies incentives to hire new immigrants is what is needed. These types of policies would allow new immigrants the opportunity to gain the Canadian experience they would require to succeed in Canada, as well as to ensure they receive the income they require in order to support their families.  

Kirsten

References

George, U. (2003). Immigration and refugee policy in Canada: Past, present, and future. In A. Westhues, Canadian social policy: Issues and perspectives (pp. 145-163). Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

Trichur, R. (2011, November 14). Productivity woes aggravated by failure to hire new immigrants. Retrieved from The Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/growth/productivity-woes-aggravated-by-failure-to-hire-new-immigrants/article2220379/