Tri-City newcomers are among the most skilled but finding a job in the Canadian context can be a challenge, says the organizer of an upcoming series of seminars and job and resource fairs for the local immigrant population.
Abigail Cameron, manager of the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership (TCLIP), said newcomers want to work, and most speak English, but navigating the local job scene can be difficult.
“What we know from the census data from 2016 is that over 60% of residents who settle in the Tri-Cities arrive through economic class.”
In other words, they are job ready. Unfortunately, because of a lack of connections and understanding about how the local job search process works, these newcomers end up in low-paid, unskilled work.
In some cases, they need to re-certify to be able to have the equivalent job, and while most understand they will have to start over, trying to at least find work in the same sector, such as health care, is challenging, too.
“They have the skills that would satisfy Canadian labour market needs but when they do arrive in Canada, many of them are under employed. How can we support newcomers so they can be included and have meaningful employment in their skill set in the same sector they want to be in as in their home countries?” asked Cameron.
From Sept. 10 to 13, a series of seminars will be held in each of the three cities, to help immigrant newcomers navigate the local job scene and connect with employers.
The following times and dates are planned:
• Sept. 10, Coquitlam Public Library, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sept. 11, Port Moody Recreation Complex, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Sept. 12, Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex, Terry Fox Library, 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
• Sept. 13, Evergreen Cultural Centre, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The workshops will cover topics such as resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, intercultural communication in the work place, volunteering, self-employment, networking, working in the construction and engineering sector, foreign credential recognition, among others.
There is even a workshop geared to youth, hosted by the city of Port Coquitlam and workshops on social media, especially LinkedIn. There will also be a resource market place on Sept. 10 at the Coquitlam Public Library's City Centre branch.
Cameron said 30 employers will participate in a hiring event on Sept. 13 at the Evergreen Cultural Centre from 2 to 6 p.m., and the employers could benefit as much from participating as the newcomers.
“This could be an untapped market," Cameron added. "There are skilled professionals in the Tri-Cities, and how do we tap into that.”
For more information and to register go to tricitieslip.ca.
