It’s been said before: Canada’s immigration system is broken. At this most critical of times, employers get more anxious daily about erosion of a qualified national labour force. And some believe the issue had reach crisis proportions.

Statistics Canada continues to report lack of Canadian experience among major challenges immigrants say they face in getting work here. A new poll of CEOs, meanwhile, says employers are increasingly looking abroad for much-needed foreign skills.   

Discriminatory employment practices targeting people with disabilities may be more common than many suspect. It’s an issue recently raised by unions on behalf of municipal workers in Canada’s capital city

Only 17 percent of Canadian employers have strategies in place to recruit older workers, according to a survey conducted by Manpower Canada.  In spite of that, workers over age 55 are showing stronger growth than other groups in the labour market, accounting for half the increase in employment growth so far this year.

Women’s family responsibilities, along with age demographics and levels of education, are increasingly a factor in Canadian female employment trends.

Canadian provinces are increasingly stepping up efforts to attract new immigrants with the goal of meeting their labour market needs.

Four seasons. Four employment equity groups. And one company that believes that Canada’s population is just as diverse as the weather and “in that variety, we gain strength and experience.”

The company is Pelmorex Inc.

Starting Work
Provide training for supervisors and managers so that they understand how to support employees to do their jobs well.

Ask employees what job-related support they need and follow up later to see if something needs to be changed.

Meet with staff, if needed, before a new employee with disabilities starts work. Your team may be worried if they don't know how to interact with colleagues with a disability.

Assess your workplace to make sure it meets occupational health and safety rules...[ read more ]

To avoid discrimination during the hiring process, The Five O’Clock Club, a career counselling network, suggests the following:

• Intend to hire a diverse mix. Before you start putting together a new team, enter the process with the diverse mindset. Intentionally bring together people from very different backgrounds. Hire the best candidates, but try to make your organization reflect the diversity of the markets you compete in...[ read more ]