By Canadian Immigrant | February 14, 2022
It’s no secret that the health care industry needs more workers, but it’s far from the only sector in Canada hanging up “Help Wanted” signs. Opportunities await across the country, particularly, for skilled immigrants.
Despite being in a global pandemic for nearly two years, the economic outlook is promising with many growing job opportunities in various sectors across the country. With an aging workforce, skills shortages and strong demand expected to continue, it’s a jobseekers’ market, and employers across sectors like health care, construction and IT, are in hiring mode.
That’s good news for skilled immigrants.
The systemic barriers skilled immigrants have traditionally faced in the labour market — although still around — are easing. Obstacles, such as Canadian work experience requirements, may not be the dealbreakers they once were for employers who have jobs to fill.
“That’s not to say that immigrants don’t face any barriers getting re-integrated into the Canadian economy,” says Shawn McCarty, manager of key partnerships at Windmill Microlending, a registered not-for-profit that provides skilled immigrants and refugees with low-interest loans to help them achieve career success in Canada. “Many opportunities have arisen from the chaos of the last couple of years, breaking some of those barriers down.”
An example can be seen in the demand for nurses during the pandemic and the ensuing relaxation of relicensing requirements for internationally educated nurses in Ontario. “Internationally educated nurses who have yet to receive their full accreditation will have opportunities for employment on the front lines. Although the details remain to be seen, this is still an extraordinary step that highlights the depth of the need that we’re experiencing,” McCarty says.
This step also shows just how “artificial” the traditional barriers faced by internationally trained professionals truly are. “When the need is great enough, suddenly the talents and skills that people are bringing with them to Canada are now enough,” McCarty adds. “Suddenly, the need for Canadian experience might not be as essential for many employers or as many sectors.”
And the need for talent, not only in health care but also in many other sectors across Canada, is significant.
So, what sectors have the biggest labour gaps and strongest prospects for the future?
Given the ongoing pandemic, health care is the most obvious one, according to Windmill Microlending’s recently released Trending Jobs Report.