April 2021 - EMPLOYER ATTITUDES TOWARDS HIRING NEWCOMERS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE

Because immigrants tend to reside in larger cities such as Montreal, Vancouver, or Toronto, and because of the remote nature of Atlantic Canada, there are fewer immigrants in the Atlantic provinces than elsewhere in Canada. [...] Study This study investigated attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of employers in Atlantic Canada to better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of newcomers in the regional labour market. [...] Implications To facilitate the social and economic integration and retention of immigrants and international students to Atlantic Canada, and support the long-term economic prosperity of the region, a number of policy and practice recommendations have been made based on the main findings of the study: 1. [...] Strong service delivery programs from immigrant service organizations Immigration policies that meet the needs of local employers should be developed and improved The government should provide transparent and easy-to-understand information about the immigration process. [...] The employers surveyed suggested that government, settlement agencies, NGOs, and educational institutions should do more to support immigrants’ work and family life, including spousal employment, children’s education, accessible and affordable housing and healthcare, and improvement of social and community connection activities.