Employment

Want to join us? Membership to all working groups is open.

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

 

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. The Chamber of Commerce agreed to include facts such as these in their Monday Memo.

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.