Learner feels undervalued because she cannot find work in her field.

For some immigrants, the change in locale not only means a physical and linguistic change, but the loss of a career. A recent government report states that underemployment is a significant issue. This report states that:

Immigrants and refugees reported that they had found employment mostly in low skill level occupations in areas not generally corresponding to their prior education and work experience. The number of immigrants and refugees reporting employment in sales and service occupations, for example, increased from 21% to 48% after immigration to Saskatchewan. At the same time, the number of immigrants and refugees reporting employment in high skill level occupations declined from 44% to 18%.

This is even more striking when one takes into consideration that 41% of immigrants and refugees have an under-graduate or postgraduate degree before coming to Saskatchewan. In-province immigrants and refugees interviewed did not experience significant improvements over time in their reported employment situation.

Despite higher levels of education and skills, immigrants experienced difficulties integrating into the Canadian labour market. In 1996, the gap in employment rates between university-educated immigrants (73%) and Canadian - born (92%) stood at 20%. This gap has continued to widen over time...

Across Canada, language difficulties, lack of recognition of prior learning and foreign credentials...and possibly discrimination are factors hindering newcomers' integration into the labour market. ⁸

Options to explore with the learner:

We want to be supportive and encourage learners to get jobs that suit their skills, abilities and previous experience. However, the statistics are disheartening and you may want to discuss some of the difficulties your learner may face.

If your learner is in a profession where there are local networking opportunities, inform your learner about them and discuss how these may be of use. Volunteer work may be one way for your learner to meet people and gain additional work related skills while increasing her English proficiency.

⁸ Saskatchewan Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs. Meeting Needs and Making Connections: A Report on the Saskatchewan Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Needs and Retention Study (November 2002), pp. 15 - 16.