Aware of persisting labour shortages for some time now, the British Columbia
(BC) government has been investing in WorkBC, the provincial action
plan to address skills shortages. Facilitating the integration of
newcomers into the workforce is a main focus of WorkBC - providing credential recognition and training services, access to BC employer information, and guidance to help immigrants transition into the workplace.
The Skills Connect for Immigrants Program, an employment bridging
program and a key component of WorkBC, has already exceeded its
2007/2008 fiscal targets of helping 1,500 immigrants find work in BC
(200 in the health sector). The program has been "very successful in
helping immigrants overcome the barriers they face in finding jobs
matching their current skills, qualifications and experience," as
stated by Colin Hansen, BC Minister of Economic Development. Since the
Skills Connect Program began in July 2006, 2,300 skilled immigrants in
BC have benefited. As of March 20, 2008, 1,515 immigrants are enrolled
in the program.
Two other announcements for immigrant job-seekers were recently made by
Minister Hansen. One is a $1 million allocation to further improve
credential recognition programs in BC – part of a $3.1 million
contribution from the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential
Recognition Program. The other is a new pilot project at the Vancouver
Public Library, which will provide newcomers with customized employment
information to help them find work in their field. "The library is
often the first place recent immigrants come as they begin their job
hunt," explained Vancouver City Librarian Paul Whitney.
"B.C. is aggressively courting skilled immigrants from overseas and
across Canada in order to fill many of the one million job openings
available over the next decade," Hansen stated. "In inviting them here,
we have the responsibility to ensure they are able to use their skills,
knowledge and experience in their chosen field."
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