StatsCan Reveals Improvement in Job Matching for Canadian Immigrants
A recent Statistics Canada (StatsCan) report indicates a positive trend in the employment of Canadian immigrants, showing a decrease in overqualification. Overqualification occurs when immigrants are hired for jobs that do not match their education or work experience levels.
Gurmeet Sharma
According to the report published on May 22, the number of recent immigrants with at least a bachelor’s degree working in jobs fitting their qualifications increased by 4.4% between Canada’s 2016 and 2021 censuses.
StatsCan also noted a reduction in the percentage of "over-educated" recent immigrants during the same period. In 2016, 31.1% of recent immigrants were over-educated for their jobs, which decreased to 26.7% in 2021.
Historical Trends in Overqualification
Overqualification has been a persistent issue for Canadian immigrants for decades. StatsCan data shows that the rate of education-occupation mismatch has varied since 2001:
- 2001: 28.7% overeducated
- 2006: 32.9% overeducated
- 2011: 27.8% overeducated
- 2016: 31.1% overeducated
- 2021: 26.7% overeducated (lowest in 20 years)
Conversely, the data also shows an increase in the percentage of recent immigrants with an education-occupation match:
- 2001: 48.0%
- 2006: 43.7%
- 2011: 43.7%
- 2016: 40.0%
- 2021: 44.4% (highest in two decades)
Addressing Overqualification and Employment Challenges
New immigrants to Canada can address overqualification through bridging programs, which are designed to connect their international education and work experience with Canadian standards. These programs, funded and managed by provincial and territorial governments, help immigrants gain the necessary accreditation and experience to work in regulated industries across Canada.
Note: Bridging programs are not available for all industries.
Resources for Newcomers
Finding employment in Canada can be challenging for newcomers due to differences in workplace customs, cultures, and requirements. To assist immigrants, numerous online platforms offer resources to help them create Canadian-style resumes, prepare for job interviews, and develop effective job search strategies.
