Visible minorities made invisible

These factors are frequently not discussed in research reports, such as the School Leavers Survey (Statistics Canada, 1986); visible minorities are made invisible in employment studies, such as those cited in this report (chapter 2). In 1991, there were 2.58 million members of visible minority groups in Canada. How was it possible to exclude visible minorities from important national studies? The invisibility of members of visible minorities and their concerns is a major factor in their ability to make the transition into employment. Little attention is paid by schools, researchers, employers, unions, and governments to the specific barriers faced by Canadians of visible minority background.

Visible and limited in all aspects of the transition processes

Getting a picture of yourself

• Counselling: Few counsellors deal with the issues of race and racism in counselling students who are entering the workforce and there is little development of skills to help students combat racism as they attempt to make the transition into a job. There is massive denial of the reality of this aspect of work in much of high-school counselling. In a more general sense, there is little employment information in career counselling classes, let alone employment information as it relates to racial groups.
  
  
• Self-assessment: In career education, self-assessment activities frequently omit the racial aspect of self, hence students of color are unable to enhance their sense of themselves by being able to connect with communities of color and experience a greater sense of belonging and of possibility. The color-blind approach is encouraged in many of these activities; unfortunately, the market does not take a color-blind approach. As a result, when visible minority students are unable to make the transition, they are ill-equipped to distinguish their own inadequacies from the attitudinal and institutional barriers that they face when seeking employment.
  
  
• Prior learning assessment: Some members of visible minority groups have received their formal education outside Canada. Many come to Canada with some or all of the skills and experiences required for the job market. However, because of inadequate mechanisms for assessing their credentials, the country often loses expertise and years of experience and these individuals are unable to make the transition into meaningful employment.