New Realities. New Opportunities. Engaging employers on immigrant employment Elizabeth McIsaac, TRIEC Toronto LIPs Labour Market Meeting 14 April 2010

Established in 2003 Focus on finding solutions for including highly skilled immigrants in Toronto Region labour market Multi-stakeholder collaboration: employers, universities, colleges, unions, community and immigrant organizations, occupational regulatory bodies, all three levels of government Vision: A Greater Toronto Region that prospers by fully engaging the contributions of skilled immigrants. What is TRIEC?

Employer engagement AWARENESS Increasing employer awareness of the value of immigrant skills, education and experience  public awareness (print, TV ads, media / public relations)  Strategy development: identification of partnership opportunities / target groups, setting priorities ACCEPTANCE Increasing employer acceptance of the need to explore solutions and opportunities  Relationship development and management ACTION Enabling employers to take action and engage in solutions to recruit and integrate skilled immigrants into their workplace  Participation in programs  Spokespersons  Champions  Informing solutions

Employer engagement Challenges initial contact turnover of employer contacts many contacts within organizations but not coordinated creating buy-in across all levels appropriate and effective opportunities for action long sales cycle external factors employer fatigue

What does TRIEC do? 1.Convenes and collaborates with partners, creating opportunities for skilled immigrants to connect to the local labour market. [individual] 2.Works with key stakeholders, particularly employers, building their awareness and capacity to better integrate skilled immigrants into the workforce. [organizational] 3.Works with all levels of government, enhancing coordination and effecting more responsive policy and programs for skilled immigrant employment. [systemic]

Solution Occupation-specific matches between a newly arrived skilled immigrant and their established Canadian counterpart Since 2004, more than 5000 matches have been made Nearly 80% of mentees surveyed have found full-time positions Participation of 50+ corporate partners to recruit mentors Making connections Immigrants lack professional networks that help make linkages to employment opportunities:

Making connections Immigrants lack Canadian work experience often required by employers: Solution Paid internship program that provides first Canadian work experience, operated by Career Edge Organization Since 2003 over 1000 interns have been placed Currently there are over 350 active host organizations Nearly 80% of interns secure full-time positions in their field

Building awareness

Immigrant Success Awards

Building capacity The Employer Roadmap

Building capacity

Employer Workshops Equip employers with strategies, resources and tools to effectively recruit, select, and integrate skilled immigrants Recruit: Sourcing channels to attract skilled immigrant job candidates Select: Recognizing international credentials; Identifying cultural biases and assumptions that can affect hiring decisions Integrate: Creating inclusive work environments to ensure equal participation; Identifying systemic barriers that can prevent full inclusion; Building Cross- cultural competence (individual, organizational); Creating strategies for educating recruiters, hiring managers, and general employee base Building capacity