Paths into the economy: structural barriers and the job hunt for skilled PRC migrants in Canada

Abstract

Well-educated and trained Chinese professionals immigrating to Canada face barriers in finding jobs. To understand this wastage of human capital, we see entry to the professions as mediated by frameworks. The social construction of careers influences the demand for labour. Human capital is a social construct defined by certification procedures in Canada and by the way Canadian employers perceive appropriate matches of jobs and job applicants. Their demand for people with 'Canadian experience' blocks entry into higher-level jobs. The study interviewed thirty-two couples in 1999-2001 using qualitative methods to learn about their experiences finding jobs in Toronto.