Over-education occurs when individuals possess educational qualifications that exceed the requirements of their job1. The most recent 2016 federal data shows that 35% of immigrants in Canada were over-educated, which is twice as high in comparison to their Canada-born counterparts at 16%2. As a country that prides itself on being an immigrant nation with a skilled migration system often seen as a “benchmark for other countries”, these statistics shed light on the harsh reality of discrimination that persists within Canada’s labour market3.
In an effort to understand the challenges experienced by internationally trained and experienced immigrants, particularly in the registration, certification, and licensing processes, the Immigration Partnership Saskatoon (IPSK) launched the Regulated Professions Employment Research project. In the October session of Lunch & Learn, Jasmine Calix, BA, MA from IPSK shared insights into this project and the ongoing advocacy led by her team to eliminate the “Canadian Experience” requirement that perpetuates the discrimination faced by newcomers in the labour market and continues to hinder newcomers’ employment opportunities.
The Disparity
Statistics Canada found that as of 2016, only 38% of immigrants in Canada had jobs that required a degree, compared to 59% of the Canada-born population3. Looking at specific fields of occupation, just 48% of immigrants with a bachelor’s degree in engineering were working as engineers, compared to 66% of their Canada-born peers. Similarly in Ontario, 29.8% of immigrants and 42.6% of non-permanent residents with degrees in medicine, dentistry, optometry, or veterinary medicine were not working in their respective fields4. These numbers point to the fact that despite being younger and highly educated, immigrants in Canada struggle to secure jobs that match their qualifications.
The Interviews
The project started with interviews with occupational regulatory bodies and immigrants from various professional backgrounds. Many participants identified the “Canadian Experience” requirement as a barrier. Some expressed frustration over being “misled by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, like those points that did not matter anymore and having to start from scratch”.
Participants also described the job search process as confusing, citing inconsistent information and the challenge of navigating multiple, sometimes contradictory, sources. As a response, IPSK developed the Employment Resource Guide which lays out the steps to obtain employment in Saskatchewan’s 73 regulated professions.
The Advocacy
To address the “Canadian Experience” barrier, IPSK explored legislative solutions. In Ontario, Bills 88 and 149 prohibit employers from requiring “Canadian Experience”. Jasmine and her team engaged with Deputy Ministers to extend similar protections within Saskatchewan’s bill 81. They also met with the Members of Parliament, advocating for explicit language in Bill C-286 to eliminate the discriminatory requirement at the federal level.
In a promising development, British Columbia recently passed the International Credential Recognition Act in July 2024, removing the “Canadian Experience” requirement for 18 of its 40 professional regulatory authorities. Check out the session recording above to learn more about these legislative changes
Future Research
Jasmine concluded the session by asking the audience an important question: “Are employer/ regulator requirements of Canadian-based education, training, experience, and professional eligibility a way of excluding immigrants from opportunities appropriate to their qualifications gained abroad?” She emphasized the need for future research to explore this issue further, recommending collaborations with Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs), settlement agencies, and other organizations who directly support newcomers.
The Lunch & Learn series is a monthly virtual gathering hosted by the Newcomer Knowledge Hub. We provide informative presentations delivered by experts in the settlement sector. Whether you are a service provider, policymaker, student, or simply curious about the world of settlement, we invite you to join us at our next session by registering here.
1 Hou, F., Lu, Y., & Schimmele, C. (2019, December 13). Recent trends in over-education by immigration status. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2019024-eng.pdf?st=nRHD5DhI
2 Mooten, N (2021, July). Racism, discrimination, and migrant workers in Canada: Evidence from the literature. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/reports-statistics/research/racism-discrimination-migrant-workers-canada-evidence-literature.html
2 Statistics Canada. (2019, December 13). Over-education among immigrants in Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2019085-eng.htm
4 Janzen, N., & Fan, C. (2023, February 22). Proof point: Canada is failing to put immigrant skills to work. Thought Leadership RBC. Proof Point: Canada is failing to put immigrant skills to work – RBC Thought Leadership
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