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Canada’s Number One LMI Challenge: Effective Integration of Immigrants into the Workforce

Canada’s Number One LMI Challenge: Effective Integration of Immigrants into the Workforce Sharon Qiao Centre for the Study of Living Standards The Fifth Annual National Labour Market Information Forum Winnipeg, Manitoba February 12-14, 2006. Labour Market Challenges in Canada.

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Canada’s Number One LMI Challenge: Effective Integration of Immigrants into the Workforce

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  1. Canada’s Number One LMI Challenge: Effective Integration of Immigrants into the Workforce Sharon Qiao Centre for the Study of Living Standards The Fifth Annual National Labour Market Information Forum Winnipeg, Manitoba February 12-14, 2006.

  2. Labour Market Challenges in Canada • The aging workforce • The shift to high skilled jobs reflecting technological changes • The labour shortage arising from low unemployment rates

  3. Actions to Address Labour Market Challenges • Government: ◘ Encourage lifelong learning ◘ Bring skilled workers 1.Promoting internal labour mobility 2.Promoting immigration

  4. Chart 8: Low Income Rates of Recent Immigrants and Canadian Born Comparison Groups, 1992-2004 Source: Picot, Garnett, Feng Hou and Simon Coulombe (2007) “Chronic Low Income and Low-income Dynamics Among Recent Immigrants” , Statistics Canada, No. 11F0019MIE-294.

  5. Barriers to Integrating Immigrants into the Canadian Labour Market • Lack of official language skills • Lack of recognition on foreign credentials • Lack of Canadian experience • Cultural differences related to job-seeking • Lack of familiarity with the Canadian labour market • Lack of networks

  6. What LMI can do to reduce these barriers? • Provide information useful to immigrants • Make immigrants aware of the existence of the information • Allow immigrants easy to access to the information

  7. LMI for immigrants: how do we perform? • We have an abundance of LMI for immigrants • Many immigrants are not aware of the information • Many immigrants lack skills on how to use LMI

  8. Best practices on LMI: lessons from international experiences • Conducting LMI marketing campaigns • Embedding LMI in the education system • Building bridge mechanisms

  9. 1. Conducting LMI marketing campaigns– make the targeted users aware of LMI Many immigrants are not aware of LMI. ◘ The United Kingdom: In order to attract users, the University for Industry /learndirect conducts regular and systematic marketing campaigns to promote its LMI service. The campaign makes heavy use of radio and television advertisements. ◘ European Commission: named 2006 “the European Year of Workers Mobility”, and conducted marketing campaigns to raise the awareness of the existence of LMI related to mobility.

  10. 2. Embedding LMI in the education system– Allow the targeted users easy to access LMI Many immigrants return to school to improve their language skills or to upgrade their knowledge. ◘ The United Kingdom: 1. The1997 Education Act requires that all schools provide a minimum program of career education. 2. 90% of schools have a careers library. 3. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have Careers Service.

  11. 3. Building bridge mechanisms– allow the targeted users easy to access LMI The fact that immigrants lack language and job searching skills makes it difficult for them to use LMI efficiently. ◘ United States—Language bridge mechanisms CareerOneStop: provides language translation tools to help people whose first language is not English obtain LMI easily– Bridge Mechanisms for non-English speakers. ◘ Germany– Personal bridge mechanisms Intensive using career counsellors in public employment agencies 1. the work counsellor (Arbeitsberater) 2. the placement officer (Arbeitsvermittler)

  12. How to use LMI to effectively integrate immigrants into Canadian labour market ◘ Conduct marketing campaigns for LMI through TV, newspaper, radio, Internet and other media, or organize festivals to enhance immigrants’ awareness of LMI products and services. ◘ Build effective bridge mechanisms for immigrants to access LMI by using language tools and personal counsellors well versed in the transition difficulties facing immigrants. ◘ Bring more work-related information to schools, universities and colleges, and deliver LMI to immigrants through career libraries or teachers, professor, and other staff on campus.

  13. The End Thank you! Sharon Qiao The Center for the Study of Living Standards 111 Sparks Street, Suite 500 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5B5 613-233-8891, Fax 613-233-8250 Email: sharon.qiao@csls.ca

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