Canada invests in helping foreign workers integrate
Moneycorp, 01 Aug 2010
Foreign trained workers should find it easier to integrate into the Canadian workforce after the government of Canada announced a special project to help with integration. According to the announcement made in July, Canada will spend almost a million dollars on the programme over two years.
The government is also investing $50 million to remove barriers surrounding the recognition of foreign credentials in across the country.
The thinking behind these steps echoes views expressed in Managing Today’s Global Workforce, a recent survey by Ernst & Young (Canada). The survey gathered responses from 340 senior executives in Fortune 1000 companies. They identified ‘understanding and coordinating global talent resources to fill key positions’ as an important talent management initiative.
More jobs advertised
The government integration initiative is timely, as the number of jobs advertised in Canada in May this year shows a 9% improvement on the year before – suggesting that the rate of employment in the country is growing. Since the beginning of the year, the number of jobs advertised in Canada overtook comparable figures from the 2008/09 financial year.
With VAT in the UK rising to 20% in January and what the Institute for Fiscal Studies labelled the ‘longest, deepest, sustained period of cuts to public services spending at least since World War II’, many UK residents will be looking for opportunities abroad. The positive signs in the Canadian job market bode well for prospective migrants.
However, the situation is not the same across all provinces, according to the Canadian Job Market Report published by CareerAIM.com, Canada’s largest source for job opportunities. The strongest employment advertising growth over the 12 months to May 2010 was recorded in Prince Edward Island. However, the province has a small population base and the growth of nearly 34% in Ontario is arguably of more interest to job seekers. Alberta recorded 18.6% more job advertisements, Quebec 9.3%, Manitoba 7% and British Columbia 3.2%.
Saskatchewan held steady in terms of the number of positions advertised, while fewer jobs were advertised in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick over the year.
Unemployment rate falling
In July, Statistics Canada reported that the unemployment rate had fallen below 8% for the first time since January 2009. The province with the highest unemployment rate is Newfoundland and Labrador at nearly 15%, with Manitoba the lowest at just over 5%.
Most of the employment gains over the last year were in the economic powerhouses of Ontario (+60,000 jobs) and Quebec (+30,000 jobs).
The positive trend is somewhat undermined by continued job losses in the manufacturing sector, which is running at record low levels of employment. According to Mr Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, the number of manufacturing jobs in Canada is at its lowest level in 35 years.
It is also sobering that the number of people in full-time jobs is still lower than it was in October 2008, with more than 100,000 fewer people employed. Just over 19% of all Canadian employees are now in part-time positions.
As of 26 June 2010, the Canadian Government announced a new ‘high demand’ occupations list. This means applicants who are working/have worked within one of these occupations and are able to prove at least one year’s continuous work experience in the last ten years, may be able to submit an application to Citizenship & Immigration Canada for permanent residency. Only 1,000 visas will be issued for each occupation listed, up to a total of 20,000 visas between now and the end of June 2011 – so time is of the essence.
If your occupation is not on the demand list, this means you will require an offer of employment first. Brazolot & Co has a high success rate of helping potential migrants secure employment to aid their permanent resident application; we are more than happy to discuss this option with you. If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity now, please contact the Brazolot & Co. office on 001 450 458 2186 or email marion@willisbrazolot.com to request an evaluation sheet. Upon receipt of your evaluation sheet, please complete in full and return to Brazolot either by email or post, together with an up-to-date copy of your CV. Once Brazolot has received your completed evaluation, they will assess your details to determine your eligibility and your best way forward.
Next, a consultation with one of their licensed consultants will be arranged to outline the emigration process and answer your personal questions. Their interview with potential migrants assesses eligibility and creates a customized strategy to help you achieve your goal.
Willis Brazolot & Co. is committed to assisting individuals, families and business people achieve their goal of immigrating to another country. With nearly 35 years’ combined experience; they can assist you in your move.