Is there a skills mismatch between newcomers and what Canada needs?
By Silvia Di Blasio
July 6, 2014
One of the reasons unemployment exists and is higher among immigrants and other sub-groups such as university graduates today is because there is an imbalance between what employers and the economy need and what people have studied.
Many argue that part of the mismatch has happened because too many people went to university to study “professional” careers, and too many lack actual, hands-on experience and the ability to think in systems and adapt quickly to new technologies and market trends.
According to a research report by Miiner Management Consultants in Toronto, there are four types of mismatch:
supply-demand mismatch
geographical mismatch
over-qualified mismatch (under employment)
under-qualified mismatch (over employment)
Mismatch creates problems for everyone: jobseekers don't find jobs or settle for ones they don't like, and employers have shortages that impact their productivity as they can't find employees with the required skills and experience.
Why this happens
The problem of skills mismatch is inherent to how free markets work. Left unregulated, markets theoretically respond to the forces of demand and supply. However, “markets” are neither people nor institutions and, as such, they lack ethics, and decisions are made by groups and institutions that may have different interests and goals.
For example, universities and colleges create study programs based on studies of what is trendy or needed. However, factors such as budgets, politics and bureaucracy, or even more practical ones such as not having the required staff or technology may slow down the process of implementing a new program. Certain careers take two to four years or more for a student to graduate, and by the time these graduates are out, the needs in the market may have changed.
It's a similar situation with immigration. While immigration rules are based on provincial and federal skill shortages, the application process may take years, and immigrants arriving today may have the occupations needed five or even 10 years ago, instead of today.
Finally, one of the most prevalent reasons why there is mismatch is because neither students nor jobseekers engage sufficiently in serious labour market research. Not knowing what the market needs leads to choosing the wrong studies or targeting the wrong postings.
What you can do
There are five things you can do to overcome the problem of mismatched skills in your career.
Take labour market research seriously: read beyond the lines, have as many informational interviews as you can, engage in social media groups and follow trends, read specialized publications combined with mainstream and alternative publications. You need to understand what is happening in the economy and particularly in the industry or sector that interests you. Even if you have years of experience, you are new to this particular market. What is happening? What trends can you see? Don't trust a few “friends”; ask the experts and follow your instincts.
Open your eyes and think outside the box: the definition of jobs is changing, the hierarchy of studies and skills needed are changing: there are many more opportunities for hands-on and trade-style occupations than for PhD and master's work.
Look into the emerging economies: the green, the sharing and the gift economies. What is happening? What types of businesses, partnerships, new models and jobs are emerging? How can your skills be transferred here?
Be strategic: don't study “more of the same.” If you can't find a job in your industry, why is this? Do you really need more education or just some strategically chosen hands-on courses?
Emphasize the matches: collect real job descriptions of jobs you want and highlight what they ask for: do you possess them? Do you highlight them in resumés and over interviews? You don't? Think about the training you need or whether you may be targeting the wrong jobs!
Source: canadianimmigrant.ca/work-and-education/is-there-a-skills-mismatch-between-newcomers-and-what-canada-needs
