1. Creating a One-Stop Shop for Employers – Opportunities & Challenges Metropolis Conference September 14 th 2011

2. Agenda  Who is the Immigrant Employment Council of BC?  How did we get started?  Why a website for employers?  What is working? What is not?

3. Who are we? A council of employers, business associations, education, government and NGOs Formed to fill a niche – work with employers to connect immigrants Mission – skilled immigrants improve our economy

4. Our Roots Built on 12 years of work addressing immigrant un/under employment Funded by BC government and housed in Vancouver Foundation One of 10 immigrant employment councils across Canada

5. The Beginning Held a Summit in October 2008 Identified resources to help employers hire as a missing piece Also mentoring and internship programs for immigrants IEC-BC launched in February 2009 and formed a board and 3 working groups

8. Employers asked for… Useful/Somewhat Useful 1 Website for employers to post vacancies 64% 31% 2 Employer ‐ based training program 62% 34% 3 Website w. labour market & demographic info 57% 39% 4 Website profiling immigrants 56% 40% 5 Mentoring Program 55% 40% 6 Internship Program 54% 42%

18. Where are we now? 110 employers registered 270 candidates (skilled immigrants) 180 employment counsellors

19. Thank you kelly.pollack@iecbc.ca