Learn more about internationally-educated professionals in the workplace.

• Many Canadian companies are almost uniformly in favour of hiring IEPs, but only a minority have implemented IEP-friendly policies and programs.
• 68% of employers cite the economic climate, as well as insufficient resources (i.e. cost) as one of the main barriers to adopting IEP-friendly policies.

Read the COMPAS Employer Survey.

• Although employers maintain that basic English-language proficiency is imperative, demands for broadening the range of socio-cultural, sector-specific and occupation-specific communication abilities are needed for IEPs to excel in today’s culturally diverse workplace.

Read the report from Colleges Ontario.

• Canada’s immigrant population offers a diverse set of strengths and international experience that can help give Canada a global economic advantage. However, barriers in areas such as official language training and foreign credentials recognition impede immigrants’ integration into the workforce.

Read more here Canadian Labour and Business Centre.

Read more about language skill gaps that affect workforce integration.

• A considerable perception gap exists between IEPs and employers. Businesses recognize language skills as a serious barrier towards IEP hiring decisions or job advancement, while IEPs detect few challenges with their communication abilities.

Read the COMPAS Employer Survey.

• Language fluency is one of a handful of determinants for successful integration of internationally-educated professionals in the workplace.

Read the Executive Summary at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada).

Find facts and figures on Canada’s foreign-born population .

According to the 2006 Census:

• Over 6 million Canadians are foreign-born, representing almost 20% of the total population. This is the highest proportion in 75 years.
• Between 2001 and 2006, Canada's foreign-born population increased by over 13%. That’s quadruple the increase in the Canadian-born population, which only grew by 3.3 per cent.
• In 2006, over 70% of the foreign-born population reported a mother tongue other than English or French.

Read more here Statistics Canada.

• By 2011, immigrants will represent almost 100% of net labour market growth in Canada.

Read more here Colleges Ontario.

• Canada ranks 5^th in percentage of resident foreign-born population compared to 28 other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries including the US, the UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia.

Read more here Canadian Labour and Business Centre.