Transitioning into the Canadian Workplace

1335 Words3 Pages

Canada has a very diverse group of people, each of whom has studied competently and is a professional in a different skill based occupation. From the 2006 Canadian Census, about one in five Canadians were born outside the country (McMullen, 2009). Each of these immigrants originates from a distinctive culture and language, and have different characteristics such as gender, age, and education. Yet, it is not an easy process as it once was to immigrate to Canada (Dupuis, 2013). Upon arrival, immigrants face countless forms of barriers, such as: language, proper credentials, abandonment of education and work experience from abroad, discrimination, lower earnings and cultural differences. It is apparent that many who have come with University or College degrees now work jobs which require lower educational standards, such as: clerks, salespeople, truck drivers or cashiers (McMullen, 2009). As a result, the transition for immigrants into the Canadian workforce is a difficult process, leaving many skilled labourers without proper jobs and discouraging others from entering the workforce.

To begin with, it is quite clear that Canada is trying to restrict the amount of immigration in the recent decade. In 2002, the Citizenship and Immigration Minister had finalized an immigration package which prevented skilled workers from entering Canada (Thompson, 2002). Not only this, but the package would be applied retroactively, thus affecting thousands of immigrants from the time the first draft was completed. The Minister claims that this package "favours independent immigrants who have higher education and language skills" (Thompson, 2002). Yet, the majority of critics state that this package will actually keep out skilled workers and essentiall...

... middle of paper ...

...r.com/news/immigration/2013/02/15/canada_immigration_how_a_decade_of_policy_change_has_transformed_the_immigration_landscape.html>

Lu, Vanessa. (2003). Skilled new comers get work. Toronto Star.

McMullen, K. (2009). Earnings differences between immigrants and the Canadian-born – The role of literacy skills. Education Matters: Insights on Education, Learning and Training in Canada, 5.

Newbold, Bruce. (2010). Linking immigrant settlement, health, housing, and homelessness in Canada. Canadian Issues.

Research and Evaluation Branch, Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (2012). Immigration overview – Permanent and temporary residents. Facts and Figures 2012. Retrieved from:

Thompson, Allan. (2002). New immigrant rules will bar skilled workers, critics charge. Toronto Star.

Open Document