canada’s number one lmi challenge: effective integration of immigrants into the workforce
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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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
The aging workforce The shift to high skilled jobs reflecting
technological changes The labour shortage arising from low
unemployment rates
Chart 1: Share of Old Workers (45-64 years old) in the Total Labour Force (15-64 years old) in Canada, 1976-2026
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey and Population Estimates and Projections.Note: Data for projected labour force are calculated by multiplying projected population with the 2006 labour force participation rates.
Per cent
Actual shares (1976-2006) Projections (2007-2026)
Chart 2: Net Labour Force Growth in Canada, 1977-2026
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey and Population Estimates and Projections.
Thousands
Actual data (1977-2006) Projections (2007-2026)
Chart 3: Trends in Labour Shortage in the Manufacturing Industry, Canada, 1992-2006
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Skilled labour shortage
Unskilled labour shortage
Source: Statistics Canada, Business Conditions Survey.Note: The percentage of labour shortage means the proportion of the survey respondents recorded labour shortage.
Per cent
Actions to Address Labour Market Challenges
Government: ◘ Encourage lifelong learning ◘ Bring skilled workers 1.Promoting internal labour mobility 2.Promoting immigration
Chart 4: Incidence of Interprovincial Migrants in Total Population in Canada, 1972-2006
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
The overall incidence for all ages
The simulated incidence for all ages using 1972's population share
Per 100 person
Source: Statistics Canada, Population Estimates Program.
Chart 5a: The Number of Immigrants Destined for the Labour Force in Canada, 1976-2005
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
160.0
Thousands
Source: Citizenship and Immigrants Canada, Fact and Figures 2005.
Chart 5b: The Contribution of Immigrants to Net Labour Force Growth in Canada, 1976-2022
36.3 44.176.5
174.4
573.1
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
1976-1995 1996-2005 2006-2010 2011-2016 2017-2022
per cent
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey and Citizenship and Immigrants Canada, Fact and Figures 2005.
Actual contributions (1976-2005) Projected contributions (2006-2022)
Chart 6: Characteristics of New Immigrants Entering Canada, 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2004
16.9
28.8 29.629.0
43.3
70.0
40.7
48.7
77.0
44.751.0
79.9
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
Share of immigrants withuniversity degrees
Share of immigrants in the"skilled worker" class
Share of immigrants whoseintended occupations were
information technology,engineering and other
professions
1992 1997 2000 2004
Per cent
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Chart 7: Unemployment rate for Canadia-born and Recent Immigrants, 1981 vs. 2001
7.9
17.4
7.15.7
7.4
29.7
12.7
9.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Canadian-born Entered country during thecensus year
Entered country within 5years of census
Entered country within 6-10 years of census
1981
2001
Per cent
Source: Lochhead, Clarence (2003) "The Transition Penalty: Unemployment Among Recent Immigrants to Canada", Canadian Labour and Business Center.
Source: Picot, Garnett, Feng Hou and Simon Coulombe (2007) “Chronic Low Income and Low-income Dynamics Among Recent Immigrants” , Statistics Canada, No. 11F0019MIE-294.
Chart 8: Low Income Rates of Recent Immigrants and Canadian Born Comparison Groups, 1992-2004
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
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
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
Best practices on LMI: lessons from international experiences
Conducting LMI marketing campaigns
Embedding LMI in the education system
Building bridge mechanisms
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.
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.
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)
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.
The EndThank you!
Sharon QiaoThe Center for the Study of Living Standards
111 Sparks Street, Suite 500Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5B5
613-233-8891, Fax 613-233-8250Email: [email protected]