New publication offers BC employers strategies to fill labour shortages
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New publication offers BC employers strategies to fill labour shortages
August 14, 2018 – Vancouver, BC – With almost a million job openings expected in BC, employers need to do more to find and hire the talent they need. To help them, the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia (IEC-BC) has developed “Onboarding Newcomers: A Toolkit for BC Employers” – with easy, pro-active human-resource strategies to access and retain global talent.
“While many employers realize the competitive advantage of hiring immigrants, they often find it challenging to translate international credentials, experience and soft skills to local needs,” says Patrick MacKenzie, IEC-BC CEO. “The Toolkit helps them demystify immigrant hiring and provides a roadmap for understanding what newcomers bring to the table.”
Published in English and in French, the Toolkit builds a business case for diversity and offers recommendations on how to create effective teams that include immigrants. It outlines the necessary steps to develop a strong employer brand and provides tips on sourcing talent and assessing candidates’ competencies. Other highlights include addressing unconscious bias, supporting diversity in language and accommodating special requests. A religious observances calendar included in the new publication features religious holidays’ dates, general practices and accommodations for April 2018 – March 2019.
The Toolkit shows that, for the most part, practices necessary to attract immigrant talent are not substantially different from what you would do to attract and retain any talent.
The new publication has been endorsed by the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) BC & Yukon.
“The Onboarding Newcomers Toolkit is a fantastic resource that is highly relevant for today’s workforce” says Anthony Ariganello, President and CEO of CPHR BC & Yukon. “Strong people practices are the cornerstone of our profession. This resource will be most useful in supporting our members’ diversity and inclusion efforts.”
The creation of the new resource has been made possible through funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
“Immigrants want to contribute their energy and talents, and addressing barriers to employment is an important step in their settlement and integration journey,” says the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “Private sector companies can play a vital role in this process. With initiatives like this Toolkit, employers can take proactive steps to ensure a more diverse, inclusive and productive workforce that benefits Canadian society and our economy.”
HOW TO ACCESS THE TOOLKIT:
Click here for the English version of the Toolkit.
For the Toolkit in French, click here .
ABOUT IEC-BC:
For 10 years, the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) has been providing employers with the tools and resources they need to attract, hire and retain qualified immigrant talent. IEC-BC believes that the successful integration of skilled newcomers into the BC labour force is critical to both their success and the province’s long-term economic performance. IEC-BC works with employers, government, and other partner stakeholders to ensure that BC employers can effectively integrate global talent. Please visit http://iecbc.ca to learn more about the organization.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Natalia Angheli-Zaicenco,
IEC-BC Communications Manager
Natalia.Angheli@iecbc.ca
604-629-5364 x 104
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