Immigrants with professional degrees work at low paying jobs in Canada

Canada, 22nd May: Many foreigners having degrees in engineering, law and medicine work at low-paying jobs in Canada after immigrating here.

At least, this is what the findings of a recent study indicate, contradicting the huge claims of the governments regarding helping immigrants in Canada realize their true potential in what is often termed as a ‘land of great opportunities’.

Dreams of immigrants shatter--Immigrants in Canada arrive with big dreams in their eyes. However, once in Canada, they realize, much to their awe and surprise, that the nation does not offer opportunities of jobs they are qualified for.

It is not uncommon to see many immigrants with foreign degrees including that of engineering, law and medicine not getting jobs for which they have been studying and trained for several years.

So, the question that often pops up in many minds is that if Canada really is land of opportunities or so to say, immigrants, then, why is an MBA cleaning office and a doctor seen working as a cab driver in Canada.

Where the fault actually lies? And what can be done to avoid such a scenario from getting repeated in the coming times?

A fraction of foreign educated immigrants in Canada work at regulated occupations--A Canada Statistics report highlights that out of the total immigrants coming to Canada every year, the percentage of immigrants with foreign degrees in Canada working in regulated jobs is said to be only 24 percent.

This means that after having worked quite hard for getting the required qualifications in their respective fields in their native nations, what they gain after coming to Canada is the compulsion to take-up low-paying jobs which are not in accordance with their qualifications and skills gained outside Canada. The report shows that the number of foreign trained doctors and nurses getting jobs in healthcare in Canada is stated to be around 56 percent. And for foreign trained teachers, engineers and lawyers, the percentage of 24, 19 and 12 reflects a big shame asking for vital steps to improve the situation

What steps can help to address this problem for immigrants in Canada—So, the issue is to chalk out a solution for easing the predicament of the immigrants’ woes with regard to the employment scenario in Canada. Recently, Canada immigration department-CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) has reiterated to introduce a new system for fast-tracking of foreign credentials in a bid to remove the barriers to jobs in Canada and for eliminating the problem of under-employment of immigrants in Canada.

The first batch of occupations to be covered under the fast-tracking of foreign credentials by 2011-end include accountants, pharmacists, medical lab technicians and occupational therapists. And the next batch will cover professionals like doctors, nurses, engineering technicians and teachers by 2012-end.