integrating immigrant skills into the urban economy: triec and omega for cities of migration july...
DESCRIPTION
This presentation underscores the benefits of TRIEC and other immigrant employment councils for effective immigrant integration. The presentation explains how OMEGA, an immigrant employment council in New Zealand, was able to learn from the TRIEC experience in the Toronto Region and set up an immigrant integration initiative that would work at home.TRANSCRIPT
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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