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.
Scroll through the list below to find out what sector councils are doing to promote the integration of internationally-trained workers in the Canadian labour market.
BioTalent Canada is building capacity within the biotechnology sector so that internationally educated professionals can be assessed and connected with employers in an efficient and reliable fashion. Click here for more information.
The Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council is developing a national system to assess the skills of aviation and aerospace workers. Click here for more information.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum has completed a project, Accessibility and Removal of Barriers that identifies the perceived barriers faced by recent immigrants and other groups when accessing and completing apprenticeship training in Canada
The Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Councils has developed an inventory of available programs and resources for employers looking to hire and retain internationally-trained workers. CARS also welcomes internationally-trained workers to assess their skills at www.carsability.ca to help them identify any professional development that would enhance their success when integrating into the Canadian workforce.
The Canadian Plastics Sector Council has developed an online sourcebook documenting federally and provincially sponsored second language training programs for workers who are newcomers to Canada. Click here for more information.
The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council has conducted seminal research to inform the development of a foreign credential recognition system to address non-regulated professions.
The Canadian Trucking Human Resource Council is in the final stages of a project with the objectives of reviewing Canada’s need for foreign trained workers in the trucking industry, ensuring that a mechanism exists to recognize the competencies of foreign-trained workers, and facilitating a system to create seamless work transitions for new Canadians whose competencies have been recognized. The project will result in a resource guide geared towards helping employers recruit drivers and mechanics who have acquired their skills outside of Canada.
The Construction Sector Council has developed a comprehensive six-point strategy for Foreign Credential Recognition in the Construction Industry. Additional publications, including an analysis of information available to immigrating tradespersons and an international comparison of the FCR process can be found here.
The Electricity Sector Council’s Foreign Credential Recognition Project has completed a review of industry recruitment and employee-integration practices with recommendations on how Canada’s electricity sector can develop strategies to optimize the workplace contributions of foreign-trained workers.
Engineers Canada is working on a multiphase project, From Consideration to Integration, which addresses foreign credential recognition issues in the engineering profession.
The Information and Communications Technology Council has launched the Internationally Educated Professionals Integration Initiative, which aims to improve the integration of Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs) in the Canadian ICT workforce through the development of a nationally recognized, competency-based self-assessment tool for IEPs; and the creation of mentoring processes and tools for IEPs, small- and medium-sized businesses and organizations working with IEPs.
The Petroleum Human Resources Council has published an article on hiring temporary foreign workers which contains links to important websites. (Click here to find out more about the article.) It has also launched a study on barriers and opportunities to hiring and integrating internationally-trained workers already living in Canada, which will feature tools, best practices and recommended actions for the Petroleum Human Resource Council’s consideration. (Note: this study has not yet been posted on the website, but should eventually be accessible from the link shown above.)
The Textiles Human Resources Council is implementing the Global Skills Connection Project. This project is investigating the challenges associated with attracting and integrating new immigrants into the textile workplace as part of the Council’s examination of current and future skills shortages in the Canadian industry.