The importance of job creation and pathway for international students – The Canada Employment Forum Creation
- By Jason Rosso
- Published on October 31, 2023
Canada has always had international students interested in studying in this country, but 2015 marked a banner year when the government approved over 200,000 work study visas for arriving students. This was in response to declining domestic student enrollment in post-secondary education, as well as fiscal expectations placed on Canadian Colleges and Universities. That number has since tripled to well over 600,000 students (about half the population of Hawaii) across Canada studying various disciplines and sectors, however the reasoning has changed over the years. The federal Government has seen international students as the answer to the aging work force and labour shortage issues in Canada. With more people retiring, decreasing birth rates and lack of skilled labour the Canadian job market is wide open for willing and engaged workers.
International students suffer from a lack of connection to these opportunities across the country. Colleges and Universities have done a banner job in recruiting, facilitating and teaching large numbers of international students, however universally they have been lackluster in connecting students with these opportunities pre- and post-graduation. With a sub 2% contribution to the Canadian workforce in labour addition, there is enormous opportunity for higher education institutions to increase and supply talented, educated, and willing workforce to Canadian industries. The ILAC Language Group has recognized the gap in contribution to the labour force and has pioneered a jobs and careers development department, The Canada Employment Forum. This national department under the ILAC banner strives to link ILAC students across all its educational outlets with opportunities and experience. It enhances the visibility of employment opportunities; and aligning with the Career and Co-op departments steers students into a seamless and beneficial system. With the use of our custom created and hand curated job board, The Employment Forum introduces ILAC students to multiple opportunities across many sectors of work and helps our international students acclimate and understand the Canadian Workforce.
Refrences:
A Short Explainer of Public Private Partnerships in Ontario Colleges | HESA (higheredstrategy.com)
Labour shortage trends in Canada (statcan.gc.ca)
International students not meeting Canada's labour market needs | CTV News