Worldwide Job Bank for Skilled Workers

Hazel’s Blog May 10, 2012

 Wandering on Canada’s evolving immigration path of change, worldwide job bank full of skilled workers

“Ottawa wants to create a worldwide job bank for skilled foreign workers” for us to pick from as needed. Canada already has a pool of skilled workers here in Canada who immigrated over the years and ended up in survival and/or transitional jobs.  It would be interesting to know if it is possible to provide the type of bridging program that really does fast track an international professional, skilled worker into their field of expertise addressing skill and cultural pockets by credible universities, colleges and technical institutes, all which would provide documentation to validate that our newcomer is really ready, willing and able to obtain and maintain employment in their occupation here in Canada.  Let us not forget about those who are already here and with some updating could be working in their profession as a skilled worker, which they were meant to be.   Meanwhile have our global glasses on seeking out the cream of the crop from the global pool to meet Canada’s industry needs. Labour market forecast so I hear is to be one of turbulence, filled with labour shortages partially due to the boomers are leaving the world of work.  I believe all occupations will suffer a loss especially the medical field and elder care facilities, the numbers are on the edge of increasing.  Due to the boomers and Canada’s low birth rate, we will be experiencing a shortage of skilled workers over the next few years and beyond. I keep hearing we won’t have the people power to maintain our economy if we don’t act now and have immigration plans, policies, acts in place to support our industry needs and how we can bring the those who are ready to work asap. Are we panicking yet?  Is there reason for concern? What about health care are there sufficient funds and facilities to care for our aging boomers?  What about the newcomers, I hope they are not looked upon as tools for Canada’s tool box.  Hopefully not just the principal applicant will be taken into consideration, but also the holistic settlement needs of his/her family to ensure a quick and smooth integration process.  I believe that if well prepared newcomers experience less stress, confidence isn’t totally lost and the feeling of belonging does cushion the process if they are treated like people and not just industry tools.  I am pleased with all the good work our not for profit government monitored settlement agencies are doing Canada wide.  Also I’m impressed with the Canadian Immigration Integration program a much needed service that should have been activated many years ago. New Canadians, those who have been accepted and approved to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents receive orientation to Canada and then one to one consultation to develop an action plan and resources to match their needs.  It’s amazing how they start to use the Working in Canada Tool to help them identify the city and province which best meets their employment needs; also cost of living is explored.  This program has really helped newcomers before they even leave their country of origin.  The CIIP orientation officer upon completion of their service in country of origin immediately refers the newcomer to a credible settlement agency and they are connected to a settlement practitioner who guides them all the way through their integration from country of origin to city of destination (no fees).  They the newcomer doesn’t have time to slip through the cracks that have swallowed up many of our previous newcomers whose skills have gone unused.  They say the best place to have a heart attack is in a taxi cab; the driver is probably a doctor and perhaps a heart specialist/surgeon. I’m wondering how the Global Pool of Skilled Workers will work out?  Hopefully an employment match will occur and settlement will be less stressful for all involved.  It is important to track and stay in contact with our newcomers to be ready to help them if they fall.  After all they are Canada’s future taxpayers.  Minister Jason Kenney states: “If they get that job offer and if they’re already among our qualified pool of candidates, we’d bring them in a light speed because we know they’re set for success.”  I wonder how this success step was missed in the past and I’m still wondering about the doctor driving the cab, the registered head nurse who is cleaning daycares, and the engineers, the technicians who are working two or three fast food jobs just to get by. All of these jobs are valuable, but one needs to be working in the field that they were educated for, and paid for. Overall I’m happy to hear that the word employed is going to be attached to our skilled workers who are yet to come.