Newcomers face under-employment: RBC poll

Almost half (49 per cent) of newcomers who have been in Canada for one year or less feel under-employed, according to a recent RBC poll.
Even after six-to-ten years in Canada, a third (32 per cent) of newcomers continue to feel their current job is at a lower skill level than they had, or would have had, in their country of origin.
According to the poll, a majority of newcomers (52 per cent), measure success based on their career, which includes having a good paying job in their field of expertise. Additionally, men (43 per cent) are much more likely than women (28 per cent) to believe that their current job is a step down from what they had, or would have had, in their home country.
“Once newcomers get past some of the career challenges they face when they move to Canada, they make a tremendous contribution to the country’s productivity and diversity,” said Camon Mak, director, Multicultural Markets, RBC. “Canada is built on immigration – new skills and resources continue to be key drivers of our country’s global success. It’s important that we help newcomers get settled quickly both into their new home and their new careers. RBC is here to provide them with relevant financial advice to help them succeed.”
Despite the importance of landing a dream job, only 42 per cent of immigrants indicated that they sought out information about career options in Canada before deciding to move.
Twenty-nine per cent searched for information to determine whether there was a demand for their career experience; 24 per cent researched whether or not they would need to be recertified to meet Canadian standards.
However, while they may not have their “dream job”, only 12 per cent feel locked in a job that may not lead to their desired occupation.
For more than seven generations, RBC has been supporting newcomers by providing them with resources and tools that make the transition to a new country seamless.
The RBC Welcome to Canada package helps newcomers who have been in Canada for less than three years with key financial decisions and includes advice and discounts on products and services.
For more information go to www.rbc.com/settlequick.