More jobs for migrants
 

More jobs for migrants


New immigration minister, Joe Volpe, has urged Canadian businesses to hire more immigrants, stating that the country is wasting a valuable skills resource. Volpe said that while Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) must do more to address problems with the recognition of foreign credentials, more companies must also be willing to give immigrant workers a chance to show what they can do.

“We have a vast resource of skilled people who have come here and are earning a living, but are underused,� Volpe said at a recent conference. “We [CIC] went on a recruiting spree encouraging the best and brightest to come here, only to find that these people couldn’t find jobs in their chosen fields because they don’t have the Canadian experience you want.

“We are squandering, wasting an opportunity that fell into our laps when we attracted the best and the brightest.
“We probably have the best educated taxi and limo trade in the world,� he added, making reference to the number of skilled immigrants who are forced to take up non-skilled positions to find employment.

During his speech, Volpe also cited concerns that Canada could struggle to attract the number of immigrants it required over the next few years as “Europe, the United States and Australia will also be competing much harder for skilled immigrants�.

The issue of immigrants being ignored in Canada’s skilled workforce is not a new one. Ever since Canada’s immigration system was changed to its current quota-based points system in 2002, there has been an underlying problem of foreign qualifications and credentials being assessed and converted into their Canadian equivalents.

In addition, Volpe also pledged to speed up visa processing times for skilled immigrants.
During a question and answer session at the manufacturing conference, Volpe’s department was criticised for the fact skilled immigrants currently have to wait for over two years before receiving their visas. The minister replied by promising to boost the efficiency of the operation.

“We can’t fill the needs of our economy if the applicants who can fill that need has to wait two or three years to get approval to come to Canada,� he said. “We have to streamline the system.�

Re: More jobs for migrants
 

Awareness is the first step on the loooooong road to improvement!

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We can but hope!!! :D

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and we do! :)

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too true to both of you *S* awareness is the first step.

Back in Australia they complain constantly (they being the public in general) about migrants who *take* the jobs away from the Aussies. However people do not think about how transient the migrant population is. New Australians, New Canadians, New Americans etc etc....it all cylcles round.
I also think perhaps some of us undervalue ourselves to a degree. I know i have been getting a little caught up in this mind set.
I am therapist *specificaly in Dementia Care* and i have been finding myself thinking of unskilled positions. (((((WHY)))) i ask myself.????? Is this a common practise.?
I have thought maybe it is because i am here on Family Class and skills and knowledgement requirement doesn't come into it. But then again, i am reading how many people who are brought into countries based upon their skills and knowledge do not go into, or cannot find employment in the field of expertise.
Does it come from us..?? do we go into with the thought that i am not good enough for this job?? is it because there is so many NEW things and different things to get used to that we feel a little lost and inadequate.?
Any insight will be most welcomed as i would like some clarity before i sink into the thoughts of *i can't apply for *that* when the time comes.

Thanks!~ :o

Re: More jobs for migrants
 

I think there is a danger of that. People come to sites like this and constantly hear how tough it is to land a good job as a newcommer (mainly as there is a tendency for people to come to sites like this for moral support in hard times), and after a while the mindset becomes one of landing any job at first for the "canadian experience" and then moving on.

Honestly though if you look at the posters who live here, most of us managed to get a decent job pretty quickly, so maybe the mindset should be to go for the job you want, and then only if that doesnt happen to start looking at options lower down the foodchain.

The reality is that immigrants coming from the UK or Oz have a major advantage over a lot of immigrants in the job stakes, and its that their English ability is not going to be questioned. Another advantage is that traditonally a lot of migrants came from the UK, so there are many UK people, or at least people with a UK heritage who have climbed the slipery pole to the upper management level, and that helps propagate a certain image too.

In recent years the number of English migrants has gone down in relation to other groups (mainly asian?) so it seems to me that hopefully in the years to come hopefully there will be a positive impact on the way all immigrants are viewed as more immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds make it to senior management on the strength of their abilities. Heres hoping anyway.

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I waited 6 months to get a professional job, but now that our savings are drying out, I am applying for any menial job, but still no chance, even for min wage jobs!

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You think the government didn't know this?
They are following a policy of DECEIVE and BETRAYAL: deceiving potential immigrants, bringing people with high qualifications here, and then giving them a hard time, and making them ready for min wage dirty jobs just to survive!

Re: More jobs for migrants
 

Yeah Ok, and why would they do that exactly? Just for fun?

I'm sure there are less-highly qualified people in the world, with lower expectations, who would do these jobs for the wages they pay and with better grace!

The "highly-qualified people" can and do sometimes vote with their feet, cut their losses, and just move out again!

There obviously is something badly wrong with the situation as it is, but I am far from convinced its just done out of spite! More probably down to poor communication and bad management maybe? Canada does "want and need" skilled workers, but they haven't yet worked out how to let them work! Eh!

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The reality seems that although the government is ‘attracting’ the ‘highly skilled’ workers to Canada via the skilled worker route…
It would seem that the companies still need to get them in via the Work visa…

In other words if the right people are already here.. why do the Canadian companies have to go abroad to find the right calibre of employees..

It would seem that the skills required don’t match the skill being allowed in or those attracted to Canada enough to emigrate (or disillusioned with home) are not the ones needed here ?

I know there are people from both skilled and work visa routes here.. It would be interesting to get opinions on why this is??

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The government knows it needs skilled people to grow the economy...especially as many skilled canadians head south for more $. The governement controlls the immigration policy to that end.

Unfortunatly the government has little/no influence over the professional bodies that license or control many skilled trades, often for the benefit of one group of people only, their members. The professional bodies also propagate this idea that only canadian qualifications are good enough. Its not in the professional bodies interest to promote immigrant rights...that just means more competition and less money for their members, so you get the situation we have in Canada.

The governement is slowly waking up to this problem, and is trying to exert influence on the licensing bodies to open up and give immigrants a chance. Its not doing enough or doing it fast enough if you ask me, but as Glaswegian has said in the past (Im paraphrasing a bit) Until you've been here a year trying to get a job, a lot of employers just plain wont take a chance on you in case you change your mind about canada and return "home" which does happen...ask Julius), and its possible that thats exctly what the "canadian experience" trap is all about.

Good Luck, hang in there!

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I was planning to come here under PR.

As part of the process of investigation - what the job market is like etc. I was offered a job that got me here in a fraction of the time I would have spent waiting for PR.

While I would say that luck and being in the right place at the right time had a lot to do with it, my family often point out that I spent hours on the internet sussing out potential employers. I also made sure I had a very compelling CV. I was prepared to drop everything and come over at a moment's notice to interview, which thankfully I didn't need to do.

I also explored other options - doing an MBA, writing etc, as I didn't really want to wait 2 years to move country at my point in life. I think that to make a success of moving you need to do as much research as you can, and then do some more. You have to be prepared to investigate all the options and also potentially make a sideways move.

If I'd stayed in the UK, I'd probably have made director by now, but as things stand, its probably at least a good couple of years off here.... But then I moved for a better quality of life, which I definately am starting to get, rather than a bigger pay cheque...

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That's because they need immigrants for two different reasons: The government needs them to take their money ($500 processing fee, $1000 landing fee, min $12000 when you enter the country, %15 GST/PST etc etc). And the gov is providing Canadian job market with doctors who out of desperation are ready to be doc assistant (at best). If you were running a big company wouldn't you like it?

I am working part time for a market research company as a tel interviewer, and there are a lot more of highly educated immigrants there, doing a job which a native hi school kid can do. but I see the ads of this company boasting their call center is staffed by college educated people!

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Ok.. I see your gripe.... but that still doesn’t explain why companies have to go abroad and pay relocation fees to bring in the skilled workers they need....

Picking up an Immigrant would cost about $20,000 less than importing the skilled worker via the work visa…plus most work visas move for equivalent salaries and don’t take a drop to move over so I’m sure they cost more in the long run too….

So why if there is this untapped skilled work base, do the companies still need to go abroad..

Because the one thing you can guarantee is importing labour on a work visa is that it has little or no Canadian experience…

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Not all employer are doing/can do this (hiring directly from abroad). For me it's the same job as some big rich companies are doing when they hire through head hunting companies. These rich boys don't wanna get involved/accused of unfair treatment/racism etc etc so if they are looking for a white (native) english speaking employee, they are ready to pay more either by work visa costs or head hunter.

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God, I am so sick of this specious argument. :mad: CIC COSTS MORE TO OPERATE THAN THE PROCESSING FEES COVER. By law it is not allowed to operate with a surplus.
The 12k is simply to make sure you have enough to survive the first turbulent year. There is no great conspiracy here, just a lot of whining immigrants who havent landed that all important first job yet.Everyone here has to pay the sales tax, not just newcommers.

Do you REALLY think its part of the governments business plan to encourage a bunch of people to come here to boost the number of people claiming welfare? :mad:

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That's absolute nonsense and completely racist of you.

While I must admit to being a WASP, in my department of 15 people, 4 are asian, one venezualan, one Quebecois, and one african Canadian. Perhaps your lack of success stems from the fact that you think that you are owed a job in Canada...

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Let's not make it personal. Iwas talking about "rich employers". My post was not intended in disrespect or question the qualifications of those who have been hired through work visas. And I don't consider myself "unsuccessful" here. Since i've landed, i've made a lot of friends with all kinds and races of Canadians. really nice and helpful people who are ready to give you their time and advice. But I also have talked to a few of those non-whites as well, not loosers but people in good positions.

Sorry if I offended anybody! Not anything personal!

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To be fair, I'm sure nearly everyone does a lot of homework, but sometimes pure dumb luck plays a part too. The lucky ones (like me) generally have a positive outlook towards canada and employment, but I always have this feeling that "There but for the grace of God go I" when I read about people frustrated at every turn, struggling to get started.

For some people all the homework and diligent research and job lead tracking in the world is still not enough, and I dont blame them for being disillusioned about things. Canada seems to be sold as this liberal nirvana, where people get what they deserve, but thats no truer here than anywhere else I'm afraid. But with patience and some luck, and a good attitude it can still all come good in the end.

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yep i was sure it would be standard to do your homework before going to live in another country, however since coming to this site..i am now not so sure :D

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Sounds like a sarcastic patronising comment to me!

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Dont put that hat on your head. I am sure this was a general observation and not a personal attack.

Iaink. Luck: So true!!! :) , but it does seem that luck has a special affinity to those, whom are persistent and daring.

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When I was an employer (software development company), we 'imported' quite a few (four, but that was half our staff at the time!) people from SE Asia. They had been international or exchange students at the local university and worked for us through a work co-op program run by the university. When they were through with uni, we helped them immigrate to Canada to work for us full-time. Why? Because they fit in well with the company, their work was great, their ability to speak Mandarin, Cantonese or Japanese as well as English was a huge plus for our company and the costs and risks involved in finding replacements for them were just too high.

I'm not sure if this answers any questions! :confused:

I think I'm writing it to emphasize a point that a lot of Canadian employers are: not 'big business'; are not rich; are not boys; would never use the "services" of an employment agencies to find employees; and would actually prefer a more global employee base.

I'm still not sure if I have a point here! :D

Re: More jobs for migrants
 

I have to admit that despite having a reasonable grasp of English, a degree in a construction field, and over 20 years experience in that field, I am uneasy about my job prospects in Canada.

I am however of the opinion that irrespective of the negativities from some posters regarding their own emloyment prospects, One needs to be flexible and retain a Canada can-do atitude.

I intend to re-train in another field if required. I am currently enrolling on a HGV course in the UK, which will help me to find work at least as a driver.

I am also fairly experienced in tackling most construction skills such as plastering decorating carpentry, plumbing, etc, and hope to be able to get some income coming in this way.

One way or another I will make it work but if it doesn't then I'll stack shelves etc.

My reasons for moving to Canada is to give my Children a better environment and future, and ultimately that will be worth the sacrifices.
Sorry, just my two bits worth.

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Excellent attitude! But thinking about "stacking shelves" as the last and easily available way for survival is the mistake, seems we all are making! Because everybody thinks like this, so such jobs are HIGHLY in demand, by people who are made and happy for those jobs, or professionals who might hate it but consider it as the last resort. It's two months now that I am applying for these kind of jobs EVERYWHERE, and no luck yet.
A piece of advice: don't wait for your savings to dry out, apply for as many shelving jobs as possible from the very first day, and look for the professional jobs at the same time. I took just one min wage job, and seems it wasn't enough, because it takes time to find more shelving jobs to pay your bills!

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So you were a good employer, but let's see what Ken Georgetti president of Canadian Labour Congress has to say about it:
Taken from Toronto Star Mar. 1, 2005
Recent immigrants suffer most under EI system

....Gaps in hours worked between recent immigrants and other Canadians do not exist because of any unwillingness to work but because of unrecognized skills and credentials, racial discrimination by employers, and the fact that recent immigrants - particularly workers of colour - are disproportionately employed in temporary and short-term jobs....

The full article is posted on misc.immigration.canada

Re: More jobs for migrants
 

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wcitizen

You think the government didn't know this?
They are following a policy of DECEIVE and BETRAYAL: deceiving potential immigrants, bringing people with high qualifications here, and then giving them a hard time, and making them ready for min wage dirty jobs just to survive!

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As somebody else said, it's the companies that are not employing migrants not the government.

It's not only Canada that is not keen on employing professional immigrants. It's the same in the UK. Just yesterday I was reading about some people who fled Sudan and are living here now. One of them was an orthopedic surgeon over there and here, he works in a newsagent. You hear a lot about some refugees or asylum seekers being qualified doctors and wanting to contribute to society but not being allowed too. Then you hear about the shortage of doctors on the NHS.

I think people just don't trust foreigners as much as they do their own and it's normal. That's life. But with patience you can always prove that you are worth the risk of them investing their trust in you!

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I forget the exact figures, but I understand that there is an extremely high proportion of british health workers including Doctors and Nurses working in the NHS who were trained abroad. Realistically the NHS, cannot survive without these foreign workers.

The sad thing is that these professionals are attracted to the UK due to the higher wages they can get in the UK, but their Country of Origin often cannot afford this drain of skilled workers.

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THAT I should think is excellent advice.

a) you are keeping busy and occupied, and even if its in a completely unrelated field you will meet people, which gives opportunities for networking,

b) You are getting a few cents in at least, with the possibility of moving up the foodchain as you do,

and c) you are getting that all-pervasive "Canadian Experience", and demonstrating to prospective employers that you are not one to sit back and rest on your laurels while you wait for the "right" job!

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The downside is that once you are working that menial job it can be hard to find the time and energy needed to properly pursue a skilled job. Not saying that you shouldnt look for low paid stuff right away...just that its hard to maintain focus on the big picture if you do...but then I am not a very disciplined person anyway, so perhaps its just me.

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Fair comment :cool:

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just a side line comment.
i have always found it easier to pursue new employment whilst employed. :)

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I know what you mean, but Ive always lacked the motivation to get off my arse and find a new one when Ive had a job. Lack of a paycheck is a strong motivator in my experience though :eek: :scared:

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Now is what I call a sensible talk

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very interesting point. I have employed people (here in the UK) that have relocated up the country and then 6 months later decided they didnt like it here in the Midlands and have then moved else where. Guess some people change thier mind on where they want to live in Canada in the first year and then leave. As an employer I can understand how they could become wary of staff that may not stay long and prefer staff that have no good reason to move if paid right.