Interested in shaping the future of work in our community? Join us! Membership to all working groups is open to everyone.
Finding suitable employment is a priority for newcomers. In fact, finding suitable employment ranks first on local, provincial and national surveys of newcomer needs.
To support newcomers, an Employment Working Group was formed in 2015.
This working group aims to:
- Increase awareness of the positive impact of hiring newcomers.
- Help increase engagement with and between employers and newcomers
- Create awareness across of resources that will help newcomers secure and retain appropriate employment
Building Inclusive Workplaces with Newcomer Talent
Are you looking for support hiring and welcoming newcomers?
Employer Tools & Resources
The Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) offers a comprehensive set of tools and resources to assist employers in attracting, hiring, and retaining skilled immigrant talent. Their Employer Tools & Resources Library provides practical guidance and best practices to help businesses create diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Key Areas Covered:
- Find Immigrant Talent: Discover strategies and resources to attract skilled immigrants to your workforce.
- Hire Immigrant Talent: Access tools to identify and assess immigrant candidates effectively, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process.
- Retain Immigrant Talent: Learn best practices for onboarding and integrating immigrant employees, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.I
- Webinars and Podcasts: Engage with expert-led sessions and discussions on topics related to immigrant employment and workplace inclusion.
These resources are designed to help employers navigate the employment cycle and build a more inclusive workplace culture.I
For more information and to explore the full range of resources, visit the I
Projects and Activities
As part of a campaign to dispel myths and misconceptions about newcomers and employment, “Just the facts” were provided to highlight the benefits of hiring newcomers.
Did you know that 37% of New
West’s population have a mother
tongue other than English or French?
Hiring a skilled worker fluent in other
languages increases communication
options and lets employers tap into
new markets.
Did you know immigrants are highly
educated? 58% of recent immigrants
25-64 years old have a bachelor’s
degree or higher. They are prepared
to meet job shortages and want to
integrate quickly into the labour force
Did you know that for every 10% increase in immigration, exports increase by 1%?
Activities have also revolved around Networking and connecting newcomers with employers.
The concept of networking is not universally understood. Newcomers often lack connections and opportunities to network. In early 2020, working group members from WorkBC Employment Services New Westminster, Douglas College, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Purpose Society, and a community volunteer pulled together a panel of employers from child care, construction and the City of New Westminster to talk to newcomers about how to find employment within their sector. The session began with Networking 101, to explain the basics of effective networking.
A panel of employees talks about how to find work in their sector.