Manitoba aims to get immigrants into their skilled professions

Last Updated on January 24, 2019

Immigrants hoping to find work in their professional field are getting some help from the Manitoba government.

Manitoba’s Labour and Immigration Ministry announced last week that more money and resources will be made available to improve the recognition of foreign qualifications and help connect employees and employers.

Many immigrants to Canada find themselves working as taxicab drivers or in the service industry, even though they have engineering or doctorate degrees from their home countries.

“Navigating the world of qualifications recognition can be complex,” said Judith Hayes, executive director of Manitoba Start, which provides career services to immigrants and connects them with businesses through a job-matching service.

“By having better information and clear guidance on navigating the licensing process, newcomers will be in a better position to achieve full certification in their profession as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

In 2015-16, Manitoba will pitch in $3 million for the Manitoba Start Program to fund the following:

• A career development curriculum and training resources.
• Profession-specific resource guides to help newcomers navigate the licensing process in regulated professions.
• Referral and guidance services to newcomers on accessing financial supports such as micro-loans.
• Job-matching services to help newcomers work in their occupational area.

“These new resources and supports will help newcomers transition more smoothly into the labour market and help them build a life and successful careers in Manitoba,” said Braun. Since 1999 over 150,000 immigrants have come to the province.

According to the provincial government, over 16,000 people came to Manitoba last year, 5,000 of whom came under the provincial nominee program.

According to a government spokesperson, labour force numbers from May indicate that “recent immigrants to Manitoba had the lowest unemployment rate of all provinces” at 4.6 per cent.

After three to five years, 83 per cent of provincial nominees in Manitoba are working in their chosen fields or related fields.

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