Federal and provincial cooperation on skills agenda will connect skilled immigrants to job resources

The provincial government of British Columbia and Canada’s federal government have jointly announced a new pilot project at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), which will provide skilled immigrants with customized employment information that will help them find work in their chosen field.

The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre will help foreign trained professionals and skilled immigrants in thoroughly planning their job search strategy by identifying them career opportunities and connecting them with other resources such as professional organizations, employer associations and immigrant services. Newcomers will also be provided with detailed labor market information.

With an estimated one million job openings in the province over the next 10 years, and only 650,000 people now in B.C.'s school system, 350,000 jobs will need to be filled by workers from outside the province. Health care, engineering, teaching and skilled trades are some of the professions that will require skilled immigrants. B.C. attracts over 42,000 immigrants annually, with most settling in the Lower Mainland.

Funding for the Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre is provided by the Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program in a partnership with the Government of British Columbia.

The InfoCentre builds on other provincial immigration programs such as Skills Connect for Immigrants, WelcomeBC and the Provincial Nominee Program. This customized service, coupled with other job programs and services offered by the VPL, will provide skilled immigrants with a roadmap that will speed their transition into the labor force.

The Vancouver Public Library will staff the Center with a specially trained librarian and will follow-up with clients to assess the success of the service. The project also helps employers in British Columbia who need skilled workers.