Canada is one of the world’s most open and welcoming countries. According to Statistics Canada, 313,580 immigrants, including refugees, arrived in Canada in 2019. This is an increase of almost 15% over the 2014 number of 267,920 immigrants. The need for settlement services is greater than ever, including employment and career transition services.
The following resources will be helpful to those in career development working with refugees, immigrants and newcomers. Topics include employment and transition programs, settlement organizations, government assistance, and additional websites and reading on related subjects.
Jobseeker resources and programs
Douglas College Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants
Aimed at newcomers who have international credentials, training and skills from outside of Canada. Working one-to-one with career coaches, newcomers will gain resources to assist in launching a career in Canada.
Government of Canada Job Board
Provides information on employment opportunities in Canada, training, employment legislation, work-in-Canada eligibility and current job postings.
Hire Immigrants
While this website is directed toward employers, it provides success stories of newcomers working in Canada, and also has guides and reports related to newcomer employment.
Refugee Career Jumpstart Project
Focuses on bridging the gap between refugee arrival and employment. Programs include “HER Startup,” “Hack Your Future” coding academy, “Refugee Trade Construction Project,” as well as private ESL scholarships and connections to mentors.
Settlement.org
Settlement.org is an Ontario-focused website that provides a wealth of information that could be useful to newcomer jobseekers across Canada. Its Employment page answers such questions as: “Why should I find help to get work?” “What is labour market information?” and “How do I create a Canadian-style resume in order to find a job?”
Skilled Immigrant Information Centre
The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre is an online and in-person resource centre that helps newcomers to Canada find the information they need to get a job, explore careers or start a business. All of its services and resources are free and are created and curated by staff at the Vancouver Public Library.
Information resources
Canadian Immigrant [Content website]
Canadian Immigrant is a national multi-media platform that aims to help immigrants succeed in Canada by providing the information, inspiration and connections they need.
Bridging Two Worlds: Newcomer and Refugee Youth [Book and webinar]
Provides teachers, school administrators and counsellors with the knowledge and practical resources to deliver more informed and culturally responsive career guidance to newcomer and refugee youth from kindergarten to Grade 12. This CERIC-supported book is available for free download or for purchase.
A 2018 webinar on Bridging Two Worlds presented by author Dr Jan Stewart with Kirby Borgardt and Kari McCluskey dives into this research, exploring the topics of working from a trauma-informed perspective, competency areas for educators of newcomer youth and more.
Refugees’ Career Development Issues [Literature search]
Topics covered in this 2018 literature search include: what career counsellors need to know about refugees, narrative career counselling for people with refugee backgrounds, helping newcomer students achieve success in secondary school, Syrian refugees and work in Canada, and social justice counselling and advocacy with immigrants.
Settlement Services Workers Profile [Research report and webinar]
CERIC-supported research project assisting settlement workers to better identify their own career development needs and to strengthen their ability to assist immigrants and refugees in establishing themselves in Canada. The project research report, The Competencies of Frontline Settlement Counsellors in Canada, identifies the current role and competencies of settlement counsellors.
A 2019 webinar presented by researchers Iren Koltermann and Dan Scott, “Redefining the Role of Front-Line Settlement Counsellors: 8 Critical Competencies for Success,” dives into the research.
The Canadian Magazine of Immigration
This magazine provides information on settlement, immigration statistics and breakdown, labour market information and connections to related provincial/territorial organizations.
National organizations
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
Community-based organization that helps victims of torture, war, genocide and crimes against humanity. Provides counselling, settlement services, employment workshops, language and skills training and legal advocacy, in addition to research and publications.
Canadian Council for Refugees
National non-profit umbrella organization that provides resources and information on issues related to refugees, immigrants and newcomers. Resources include guides, reports, infographics and research on topics such as protection of refugees, refugee settlement, integration of immigrants and refugees, newcomers’ access to services and anti-racism.
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Provides links to provincial/territorial Human Rights agencies, information on legislation on discrimination, harassment and how to file a human rights complaint.
Government of Canada site – Refugees and asylum
Information for refugees and newcomers and for those who work with them. Topics include resettling in Canada as a refugee, finding services for refugees in Canada, how Canada’s refugee system works and inspirational stories of former refugees.
Additional reading
- New tools for integration: Credential assessment for displaced individuals (Careering magazine)
- 6 websites you can share with your newcomer clients (CareerWise)
- Working with newcomer clients? Check out these 6 webinars (CareerWise)
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