Employment is key to succesful integration. Looking for a job will probably occupy most of your time right after you immigrate. Here are some key elements to consider about the Canadian job market.
Labour market figures
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Selected labour market figures - Canada
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Unemployment rate (February 2008)
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% of Employed adult population
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% with full time employment
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Average weekly hours of work
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- Weekly hours of work by fixed salary employees
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Factors of success in the labour market
Employment being essential to integration in a new society, search for a job is a top priority after arrival. However getting the job to which you aspire given your qualifications may be a long and gradual process. Immigration is in itself a process, and setllement is not instantaneous.
Here are some elements you should consider.
Gaining Canadian experience: a requirement
Immigrants choose Canada to improve both their standard of living and quality of life. They should expect this improvement to be gradual:
- in most cases, at least a few months will be required before you may get your first job: this is why, as much as possible, contacts should be established with prospective employers before you arrive in Canada;
- and then, this first job will most probably not meet your qualifications, abilities and experience or your long term expectations.
However the experience of the Canadian labour market you will gain from this first job will bring you closer to your longer term expectations. It will increase your value in the eyes of prospective employers. Studies about how successfully immigrants setlle in Canada show that acquiring such experience greatly improves their chances of finding a subsequent position which is both better paid and better in line with their competencies and abilities.
New permanent residents should thus show patience and flexibility when looking for their first employment after arriving and persevere toward the longer term goals they had set for themselves when they chose to immigrate to Canada.
The benefits of knowing English and French
Canada's immigrant selection process gives significant weight to the knowledge of one or both of the official languages of the country. No surprise there given that among other things those are the languages used in the labour market.
In Québec, knowledge of French is essential as this is the official language of the province. However knowing English will increase your job opportunities especially in Montréal where 57% of the population is bilingual. Several businesses trade with the rest of Canada (the mostly English speaking provinces) as well as the USA. Economic statistics indicate that Quebec exports to its North American English speaking partners the equivalent of about 50% of its production (Gross Domestic Product).
Regulated professions and trades: be prepared before arrival
Some 20% of jobs in Canada are regulated and require that you have a special license before you can begin work. In most cases this license is granted to workers who have specialized education and experience. Some examples of regulated occupations are: physicians, nurses, engineers, teachers, electricians, architects, crane operators or heavy truck drivers etc.
These licenses are most often granted by independent organizations who set requirements and standards for admission into a given profession or trade. Licensing is obligatory whether you are a new permanent resident or a Canadian citizen. For instance if you are a licensed medical doctor (M.D.) in your country, you will neither be recognized as such in Canada nor be allowed to practice until you have been admitted as a member of the college of physicians of the province where you intend to work. In Quebec, there are approximately 50 professions regulated by about as many separate colleges or organizations. You may consult the following List of professions regulated in Quebec.
When planning to immigrate to Canada it is advisable to get in touch with the appropriate organization in charge of regulating the profession or trade which you intend to practice well before your arrival in order to learn about admission requirements.
can assist you find the right
college or body in charge or regulating your profession.
Start by filling in and sending the
Having your education credentials recognized in Canada
Even when you have several years of work experience in your country of origin, in order to work in Canada it is advisable that you:
- have your credentials assessed (diplomas and experience) to determine if they meet Canadian requirements and
- get your diplomas recognized by the appropriate authorities in Canada.
Looking for a job
Generally Canadians do not hesitate to change jobs in order to further their career plans and improve their professional and economic situation.
Several tools may be used for job search such as classified ads, Internet job banks , private and governement specialized assistance services, personal networks or job fairs.
Employment standards
Federal and provincial legislation set minimum employment standards and protect workers rights. For instance holidays, vacations, hours of work, minimum wages, layoffs, severance pay or unjustified dismissals are all legislated.
For the most part, labour market legislation is a provincial or territorial government responsibility. Hence, though similar, legislations vary across provinces and apply to about 9 in 10 workers. In contrast the Canadian Labour Code only applies to about 10% of the labour force.
In Quebec the Act respecting labour standards sets these minima, including family and maternity leave, workers recourses in case of unfair treatment etc.
Lists of occupations in demand
In several areas Canada lacks enough manpower. The Federal Governement reguraly updates and publishes lists of occupations in demand or under pressure (that is where shortages exist). These lists vary from region to region according to their respective labour market conditions.
You may consult these lists by clicking on the following Government of Canada weblinks.
Liens utiles
