Canada Offers Job Opportunities for Refugees to Fill Thousands of Unfilled Vacancies

By: MRT Desk

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Canada Launches Economic Mobility Pathways Program to Help Refugees Find Employment

Canada is known for providing refuge to individuals seeking asylum from all over the world. Besides granting sanctuary, it also has programs that integrate refugees into society and the economy. Recently, the Canadian government announced a new initiative that would advance job programs for refugees by tapping into the many job vacancies across the country.

According to the Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), Sean Fraser, Canada will introduce the Economic Mobility Pathways Program (EMPP) to assist employers in hiring skilled refugees and other displaced persons in key occupations. The government hopes that by offering refugees pathways to employment, they can help address labor shortages across multiple sectors.

“This allows Canada to welcome vulnerable people, while giving Canadian employers access to an untapped talent pool from which they can attract and retain employees with the skills they need to help grow our economy,” the government stated.

To connect refugees with employers, the Canadian government plans to establish a federal pathway, expected to be announced by the summer of 2023. The EMPP will prioritize placing refugees and displaced persons in roles that require skilled labor, including nursing, personal support workers, long-term care aides, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, teachers, tourism and hospitality workers, and delivery and truck drivers.

“The EMPP provides another avenue for employers to address the needs of their labor market, while offering EMPP candidates the opportunity to safely restart their careers and lives with their families here in Canada,” the IRCC says.

Since December 2021, employers in Canada have had to turn down more than 1,600 potential job matches due to a lack of an appropriate immigration pathway for refugees. The new method of applying for jobs will require submitting an application, which will be processed within six months. Depending on the situation, processing fees may be exempted.

Moreover, the Canadian government will collaborate with a partner non-governmental organization to provide low-interest microloans to eligible EMPP candidates who may require financial assistance. Canada’s expected outcome from the program is to place 2,000 refugees and other displaced persons in jobs, especially in healthcare, skilled trades, and information technology positions.

Overall, this initiative is a positive step toward supporting refugees, integrating them into the Canadian economy and society, and addressing labor shortages in several sectors.

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