Why the world’s best and brightest struggle to find jobs in Canada – Business, Future of Jobs – Macleans.ca

Good overview of some of the reasons for the poor outcomes of recent immigrants, and the justification for the “expression of interest” system inspired by the Australian and New Zealand system. Like all major policy and program changes, will take a number of years following implementation before the results are known:

Critics contend that placing the short-term needs of employers at the heart of the skilled immigration system isn’t a cure-all, since the skills employers need today might not be the ones they’ll need in five or 10 years. But others warn the current system is far worse. “It’s an important discussion because we have a policy specifically designed to pick the immigrants that are most likely to succeed in the labour market,” says Oreopoulos, “and yet we’re completely failing them.”

More importantly, says Somerville, ensuring future generations of immigrants don’t end up underemployed and living in poverty will require a complete overhaul of what it means to immigrate to Canada. “It really means changing the mentality that Canada is entirely a land of opportunity,” she says. For Canadians and immigrants alike, that message will be hard to face.

Why the world’s best and brightest struggle to find jobs in Canada – Business, Future of Jobs – Macleans.ca.