integrating immigrant skills into the urban economy: triec and omega for cities of migration july...

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Fulfilling the Promise: Integrating Immigrant Skills into the Urban Economy

Welcome

Presentation by Elizabeth McIsaac (TRIEC, Toronto) and Justin Treagus, (OMEGA, Auckland)

Remarks by Nick Main (Deloitte New Zealand)

July 28/29, 2009

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Cities of Migration• Showcasing good ideas in

the integration of urban migrants in global cities

• Promoting learning exchange

• Building awareness of the links between successful integration, social inclusion and urban prosperity

www.citiesofmigration.ca

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Cities of Migration Partners

Fulfilling the Promise:Integrating Immigrant Skills

into theUrban Economy

Justin Treagus, Programme Director, OMEGA

Cities of Migration WebinarJuly 28/29, 2009

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Auckland

Largest urban area in the country Approximately 401,500 people live within the

city boundary and 1.25 million live within the wider Auckland region (about 1/3 New Zealand population)

Only 2% of New Zealand’s total land area 50% of New Zealand’s population growth

occurred in the region (Auckland Regional Council, 2007).

37 percent of the population of the Auckland region was born overseas, compared to 27 percent nationally

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Why OMEGA?

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City to City, from TRIEC to OMEGA

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OMEGA Model TRIEC sharing

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Learning and Outcomes

Mentoring Programme» “Plug ‘n Play” solution» High acceptance from Business» Momentum building – Over 130

matches, doubling first year numbers in approx four months of Year 2.

» Demonstrating success Paid Internship Programme

» Labour law differences» Cultural differences» Economic differences

Size and scale differences Leadership is local

» Business » Start-up

Business led» Transition to independent entity» Future funding primarily from

Business• BNZ, ANZ and Genesis

Energy confirmed funding partners

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New Realities. New Opportunities.

Fulfilling the Promise: Integrating Immigrant Skills into the

Urban Economy

Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director, TRIECCities of Migration Webinar

July 28/29, 2009

New Realities. New Opportunities.

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Immigration to Canada: Immigration to Toronto

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2005

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2006

2007

2008

New Realities. New Opportunities.

9%

13%

11%

16%

15%

18%

12%

13%

12%

12%

13%

15%

18%

24%

24%

25%

26%

27%

29%

30%

30%

30%

31%

37%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Ottawa-Hull

Kitchener

Montreal

Victoria

London

Windsor

Calgary

Hamilton

Edmonton

Toronto

Vancouver

Winnipeg

% of university graduates (aged 25 to 54) employed in jobs requiring high school or less

Recent immigrants

Canadian-born

Source: Schellenberg, Statistics Canada, September 2004

Underemployment (2001)

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Why does it matter to business?

“If we’re not hiring the market, we’re not serving the market.”

Zabeen Hirji, Chief HR Officer, RBC Financial Group

New Realities. New Opportunities.

TRIEC Vision

A Greater Toronto Region that prospers by fully engaging the contributions of skilled immigrants.

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement

New Realities. New Opportunities.

What does TRIEC do?

1. Convenes and collaborates with partners, creating opportunities for skilled immigrants to connect to the local labour market. [individual]

2. Works with key stakeholders, particularly employers, building their awareness and capacity to better integrate skilled immigrants into the workforce. [organizational]

3. Works with all levels of government, enhancing coordination and effecting more responsive policy and programs for skilled immigrant employment. [systemic]

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Creating opportunities for skilled immigrants to connect to the labour market

Challenge

• Immigrants lack professional networks that help make linkages to employment opportunities

• Need for understanding and knowledge of local labour market specificities

• Need confidence

Solution

• Occupation-specific mentoring

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Creating opportunities for skilled immigrants to connect to the labour market

The Mentoring Partnership – program snapshotAs of May 2009

Registered mentors 2913

Matches 4489

Corporate partners 52

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Challenge• “Canadian work experience”

Solution• Paid internship program that provides first Canadian work

experience, operated by Career Edge Organization• Since 2003 over 960 interns have been placed• Currently there are over 350 active host organizations• Nearly 80% of interns secure full-time positions in their field

Creating opportunities for skilled immigrants to connect to the labour market

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Working with employers

New Realities. New Opportunities.

hireimmigrants.ca Roadmap

New Realities. New Opportunities.

hireimmigrants.ca Roadmap

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Building employer awareness

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Recognizing Success: IS Awards

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Leveraging Employer Champions

New Realities. New Opportunities.

Thank you!

www.triec.ca