According to Statistics Canada latest report, at the beginning of May 2022, employers in Canada were actively seeking to fill over one million vacant positions; this is up 42.5% from May last year. With many Canadians retiring this year, skilled workers are required to fill labour market shortages. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser tweeted, “With five million Canadians set to retire by the end of the decade, the economic need for immigration is more important than ever.” How then, do we match skilled immigrants with the roles that need to be filled? There are many programs and services to support and help newcomers find employment in their pre-arrival careers. Check out our four trusted resources for finding employment in BC.
1) Employment Supports in Your Community
The team at NewToBC knows that new immigrants need good information to build their lives in a new place. We have created a database of resources for you in communities throughout BC. We strive to keep this information up to date and relevant to your needs. There are many agencies that can help you with your specific employment needs.
Here are a few examples of supports you can access – there are many, many others!
- The MentorConnect program with IECBC brings together skilled immigrants and established professionals in occupation-specific mentoring relationships.
- The Job Quest program with ISSofBC helps you understand how your skills fit in the local job market and explore your goals and prepare a career plan.
- The Self Employment Newcomer program with Impact North Shore provides group workshops and private business advising to help you develop your business plan and learn how to launch your business in Canada.
- The Jobs4All program through KCR Community Resources offers skills training and customized employment support to Francophones, Immigrants, and Visible Minorities.
2) The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre at the Vancouver Public Library
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 services and resources are free and are created by staff at Vancouver Public Library.
The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre offers the following guides:
The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre also offers the following workshops and events, in person and online:
- Canadian Workplace Culture and Communication
- Career and Job Search Tour
- Career Explorer
- How to Use LinkedIn
- Networking and the Hidden Job Market
- Small Business Tour
- Writing a Business Plan for Permanent Residents
- Networking Events
3) Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants
The Training Group at Douglas College helps internationally trained professionals by providing career coaching and resources to help you find employment in your field of training and expertise. There are three streams of help available:
- Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants – Health is for nurses, physicians, sonographers, and healthcare assistants living in any British Columbia community.
- Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants – Tri-Cities helps professionals residing in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, and Pitt Meadows.
- Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants – Education & Social Services helps Social Service Workers, Community Service Workers, University Professors, College or Vocational Instructors, Early Childhood Educators and ECE Teaching Assistants living in any British Columbia community.
4) WorkBC
WorkBC connects job seekers and employers – helping people find jobs, explore career options and improve their skills, and helping employers find the right talent and grow their businesses. Services are offered in person, online, and on the WorkBC app. WorkBC Employment Services Contractors can support you in your job search related activities.
WorkBC offers:
- A comprehensive database of BC job postings.
- Career tools that bring occupations to life.
- A blog featuring trends, job search tips, employment programs and more.
- An interactive map of WorkBC Employment Services Centres across the province.
- Live chat for instant help.
Regardless of where you live in BC, there are supports and services available to help you understand the Canadian workplace landscape. These services are free and are designed to help connect you to a career that matches your skills and abilities. With unfilled positions continuing to grow, we have every confidence in your success. We hope you find these resources helpful.