Finding a job a challenge for immigrants, study reveals

By Meagan Fitzpatrick, CanWest News ServiceSeptember 24, 2008


OTTAWA — Canada lives up to the expectations of most immigrants, a new study reveals, but finding a job remains the biggest challenge for new residents.

Two reports released by Statistics Canada on Monday examine immigrants’ assessments of life in Canada and the difficulties they face here.

Four years after arriving in Canada, the majority of new immigrants — 84 per cent — were positive about their decision to come here.

The study, using data from 2005, asked whether life in Canada is better than expected, about what they had expected or worse than they had expected.

About two-thirds said that life in Canada has lived up to their expectations.

When asked what the single-most important reason for settling permanently in Canada was, quality of life was No. 1. Thirty-two per cent cited it as the most important factor, followed by the desire to be close to family and friends (20 per cent), the future prospects for their family in Canada (18 per cent) and the peaceful nature of the country (nine per cent).

While most immigrants are happy they came, it’s not all smooth sailing once they get here, the survey showed.

New immigrants were asked what had been their biggest difficulties since arriving in Canada and finding an adequate job was the biggest challenge for 46 per cent, followed by learning English or French (26 per cent).

The majority of job seekers reported that they experienced a problem, often more than one, when searching for employment.

“New immigrants often experienced multiple problems when looking for work. For example, almost two-thirds of job seekers who reported a language problem also reported that lack of work experience was a difficulty,” Statistics Canada said.

In addition to language barriers and lack of experience, foreign credential recognition is a big problem and a lack of contacts in the job market was another difficulty faced by immigrant job-seekers.

But the percentage of employed immigrants did grow substantially over time, the data showed. For example, the employment rate of immigrants aged 25 to 44, the prime working-age group, went from 51 per cent six months after arrival to 65 per cent two years after arrival. Four years after arrival, it had reached 75 per cent.

The ability to speak English or French is considered a huge asset in looking for a job, Statistics Canada said.

“More specifically, immigrant's whose self-reported level of spoken English was good or very good were more likely to have a high-skill job, a job in the intended field, a job similar to the one held before immigrating and a job related to training or education,” the report said. “They also had higher wages, compared to immigrants whose spoken English level was not as good. This was true six months, two years and four years after immigrants' arrival in Canada.”

It’s a different story in Quebec however, where the level of French spoken by immigrants was not found to be related to their chances of having an “appropriate” job.

The survey covered about 7,700 immigrants who were interviewed for a third time since arriving in Canada four years earlier.
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New Brunswick urged to attract more immigrants. by Chris Fox

Senator Vivienne Poy says New Brunswick should welcome immigrants with open arms or face the consequence of losing one of its most valuable resources.

Poy, who became Canada's first Asian senator when she was appointed to the post by former Prime Minister Jean Chretien in 1998, made her remarks prior to a luncheon hosted by the Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick recently.

The event was held in conjunction with Asian Heritage Month, an annual celebration of Asian culture that Poy helped pass into law in 2001.

"The province needs to be more accepting to immigrants," she said. "If they do that and they become more multicultural, immigrants will feel comfortable not just coming here, but they will stay and you need people who will stay.''

Poy, who is also the chancellor of the University of Toronto, said she has seen Canada take great strides in its acceptance of minorities since the country's first official Asian Heritage Month eight years ago.

But she said there are still areas that need improvement. She said public schools have a role to play in helping immigrants feel accepted.

"I call it intercultural education because we need to talk to everybody and it begins with curriculum. We must educate the young people of Canada on the fact that because of immigration the face of Canada has changed.''

The luncheon was held to discuss issues faced by New Brunswick's Asian population and how diversity can be better promoted in classrooms. Representatives from the Department of Education and various multicultural groups were on hand.

"We want to be an active part in policy making," said Madhu Verma, chairwoman of the New Brunswick Asian Heritage Society.

"The discussions and awareness shouldn't end after the month of May. We want to be able to continue on the theme of Asian Heritage Month in the schools and everywhere,'' Verma said. "The theme is the rich history of Asian Canadians we have right here in Canada, and celebrating their contributions because they have contributed to building our nation."

Barb Hillman, a social studies curriculum learning specialist at the Department of Education, attended the luncheon to get input into how the department could better promote diversity in its curriculum.

She said New Brunswick schools do well in educating children on multicultural issues and the different contributions made to the country by different cultural groups.

"I think if people would take a look at the curriculum they would actually be quite pleased and I do feel the department has done a very good job of addressing diversity."