Hiring Newcomer Talent

There is a wealth of talent in Canada, as countless people worldwide choose this country to call home. They bring skills, experiences, attitudes and a rich wealth of knowledge that contribute to the Canadian economy.

Why should you purposefully search for immigrant talent to add to your company? 

• They have an impact on productivity.  According to Immigration and Firm-level Productivity: Evidence from the Canadian Employer-Employee Dynamics Database, published by Statistics Canada, immigrants have a positive impact. They help the business better itself.

• Immigrants contribute to the economy and create jobs for Canadians. Due to immigration, Canada’s labour force grows a small amount yearly despite the aging population. Because immigrants not only help the economy by filling gaps in the labour force, by paying taxes and by purchasing goods and services, but they have grit, a can-do attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit that betters the economy. On average, immigrant-owned firms accounted for 25% of the net jobs created over the 11 years, representing 17% of all private incorporated firms in the sample.

• Immigrants are willing to settle in communities across the country. Though Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are still immigration hubs, many immigrants choose to leave the big city and establish themselves in small towns, cities, and rural areas. Immigration to rural areas has also doubled since the last census. This allows businesses in less popular areas to fish in a bigger talent pool.

• Immigrants become full Canadians and integrate into the community. Canada has one of the highest amounts of citizenships. Canada has one of the highest naturalization rates in the world.  About 85% of newcomers become citizens. Immigrants move to the country and immediately start to work at becoming citizens and adapting to the community where they are established.

But what about their skill set?

There are some industries where specific certifications and licences are not only necessary but a legal requirement. If yours is one of them, you may have to accept that you can only attract immigrants who have gone through the official recertification process. Most medical or law industries fall within this category.

But if your company isn’t one of those, nothing is stopping you from accepting an immigrant with a degree from an international university or work experience from their home countries.

There is a training period, as with any new employee, but the skills gained in one country are typically translatable to another. A chef from Ghana is just as talented as a chef from Ottawa, a farmer from Thailand knows how to farm in Lanark, and a graphic designer from Ukraine has the same skills as a Canadian. Believing otherwise may lead to overlooking some incredible potential hires.

There is also the Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program for newcomers that can be helpful to ensure that newcomers have a concrete idea of what work in Canada is like. Graduates from this program are ideal employees.