World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
Canadian immigrants are overqualified and underemployed — reforms must address this (The Conversation)
Canada continues to grapple with the persistent issue of immigrant underemployment, with many overqualified newcomers unable to secure jobs commensurate to their skills. In 2021, nearly 27 percent of recent immigrants were overeducated for their positions, a slight improvement from 31 percent in 2016. Despite this glimpse of progress, the unemployment rate for immigrants in 2024 was 11 percent, nearly double the roughly 6 percent rate for Canadian-born workers. Statistics Canada reports that only 72 percent of new immigrants aged 25 to 54 with a university degree are employed. Advocates argue that this mismatch stems from systemic barriers, including the lack of recognition for foreign credentials and discrimination in the labour market. The Ontario Human Rights Commission has identified the requirement for Canadian work experience as a form of discrimination. Factors contributing to this long-standing disparity include non-recognition of foreign credentials, language barriers, and systemic discrimination. Advocates stress the need for comprehensive reforms, such as streamlined credential recognition and employer education, to fully utilize the potential of skilled immigrants and address workforce shortages.
This new Canadian immigration program is being heavily promoted by recruiters. Here’s why that’s causing concern (Toronto Star)
Canada’s immigration pilots for internationally trained care givers seeks to provide clearer pathways to permanent residency. However, due to a range of processing delays and misinformation, migrant caregivers are at risk of being left in limbo and facing exploitation from bad actors within the recruitment sector. Both Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada as well as recruitment agents have promoted the program as an equitable solution to caregiver shortages, yet little to no details have been made available about the new programming. Certain migrant workers have already received promises for job offers from recruitment agents – that may not be guaranteed, while under pressure to pay exorbitant fees for accurate information. With much ambiguity, advocates are urging the federal government to ensure timely access to transparent information about processes and procedures.
Canadian Federal govt asks higher education institutions to look for students beyond India (Hindustan Times)
Canadian Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, is urging higher education institutions to diversify their international student recruitment beyond traditional source countries, namely India. While acknowledging the significant contributions of Indian students, Minister Miller emphasized the importance of attracting talent from a broader range of countries to enhance diversity within Canadian campuses. Universities and colleges should place greater investments in outreach efforts to various countries, according to Miller, to shift the focus from quantity to quality in international student intake. Regarding expiring post-graduate work permits (PGWPs), Minister Miller cautioned that while Canada offers educational opportunities, these are not meant to be guaranteed pathways to permanent residency. Consequently, some graduates may need to depart the country upon the expiration of their permits. In contrast to US policies under President Donald Trump, Miller reassured that Canada will not adopt harsh rhetoric or actions toward undocumented residents. Canada is, however, committed to upholding the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring due process for all applicants.
Canadian pride is on the rise in wake of Trump's tariff threat, polls suggest (CBC News)
Recent comments by US President Donald Trump, suggesting Canada could become the 51st state and proposing additional tariffs on Canadian imports, have sparked a surge in national pride amongst Canadians. As Canada commemorates the 60th anniversary of its maple leaf flag, flag sales have doubled, symbolizing a strong appreciation and satisfaction with shared Canadian values and “identity”. A new Leger poll found that most Canadians (85 percent) feel proud to be Canadian, with 58 percent reporting to be very proud and 55 percent considering Canada one of the best countries to live in. Canadian political leaders from across the spectrum, have expressed concern over what many are considering threats of annexation from the US. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre vowed to safeguard Canada’s sovereignty through increased military spending and trade diversification. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed a similar sentiment, urging unity and national pride. The tariff threats have also triggered conversations about reducing reliance on the US economy and prioritize a broader commitment to self-determination and Canada’s economic independence.
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