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Peel Immigration
Labour Market
Survey Findings.
First
Peel-specific
report shows
immigrants
lagging behind
in accessing the
job market
The Peel
Immigration
Labour Market
Survey is the first study
ever conducted
that provides
local data on
the labour
market in Peel,
and more
specifically,
how immigrants
are faring in
finding
employment. The
short answer:
not as well as
their
Canadian-born
counterparts.
In general,
respondents are
positive about
their places of
work. They
reported,
positive
co-worker
relations, felt
treated fairly
by managers,
fair advancement
processes and
reported high
commitment to
their jobs. For
immigrant
respondents the
study shows a
significant
occupational
change from
managerial and
professional
positions into
sales and
service and
manual/trades
jobs after
arrival.
In the sample of
1,425 immigrants
and
Canadian-born
Peel residents
surveyed:
-
Of the
immigrant
respondents
who have
international
work
experience,
only one
third was
successful
in obtaining
their
desired
employment.
-
Lack of
Canadian
work
experience
was reported
as the
barrier
faced most
often for
immigrants
and
correspondingly,
lack of work
experience
was reported
most often
by
Canadian-born
individuals.
-
Networking
was a
serious
barrier for
both
immigrants
and
Canadian-born
individuals
but more
significant
for
immigrants.
-
One in four
immigrants
accessed
some
government-funded
employment
services,
and just
under
one-third
obtained
more
education in
Canada.
-
Both
immigrants
and
Canadian-born
individuals
report
underutilization
of their
skills in
their
current job.
The key findings
outlined in the
final report
suggest that
there is a lot
of talent going
to waste in the
Peel community
among various
groups of
workers,
especially
immigrants. The
recommendations
identify several
areas where
action can be
taken by
Community
Organizations,
Private and
Public Sector
Employers and
all levels of
Government to
help improve the
situation.
The study was
funded by the
Ministry of
Training,
Colleges and
Universities and
conducted in
collaboration
with Ryerson’s
Diversity
Institute in
Management and
Technology. The
complete report
of survey
findings and
recommendations
is available at
www.peelregion.ca/labourmarketsurvey.
For more
information
contact Laureen
Rennie, Project
Manager Peel
Immigration
Labour Market
Survey at
Laureen.rennie@peelregion.ca
or call
905 791-7800 ext
8032.
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