The literature has reported that immigrants foreign credentials have been undervalued in Canada. However, the extent to which immigrants credentials attained in different world regions have been valued or undervalued is unclear. This study uses data from the 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey to assess the worth of immigrants educational credentials in Canada, taking into account different fields of study. The major findings indicate that there were significant gross and net earnings disparities among immigrant men and women with educational credentials attained in different world regions. Foreign credentials from the US and Northern and Western Europe of immigrant men and those from the USA and all parts of Europe of immigrant women had an earnings advantage compared to immigrants whose credentials were from Canada. The results also suggest that immigrant men with foreign credentials in health fields and in commerce, management and business administration had the greatest difficulties to getting their foreign credentials recognized. Similar to immigrant men, foreign education of immigrant women in the fields of commerce, management and business administration as well as in natural, applied sciences and engineering was the most devaluated compared to women with Canadian credentials. In addition, both immigrant men and women with education from the USA and Northern and Western Europe irrespective of the field of study had the best chance to enjoy an earnings premium over their counterparts with Canadian education. The relationship between education and earnings among Canadian immigrants is further explained using a political economy perspective of racialization.

The literature has reported that immigrants foreign credentials have been undervalued in Canada. However, the extent to which immigrants credentials attained in different world regions have been valued or undervalued is unclear. This study uses data from the 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey to assess the worth of immigrants educational credentials in Canada, taking into account different fields of study. The major findings indicate that there were significant gross and net earnings disparities among immigrant men and women with educational credentials attained in different world regions. Foreign credentials from the US and Northern and Western Europe of immigrant men and those from the USA and all parts of Europe of immigrant women had an earnings advantage compared to immigrants whose credentials were from Canada. The results also suggest that immigrant men with foreign credentials in health fields and in commerce, management and business administration had the greatest difficulties to getting their foreign credentials recognized. Similar to immigrant men, foreign education of immigrant women in the fields of commerce, management and business administration as well as in natural, applied sciences and engineering was the most devaluated compared to women with Canadian credentials. In addition, both immigrant men and women with education from the USA and Northern and Western Europe irrespective of the field of study had the best chance to enjoy an earnings premium over their counterparts with Canadian education. The relationship between education and earnings among Canadian immigrants is further explained using a political economy perspective of racialization.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the personal, cultural and structural experiences and barriers faced by highly skilled Canadian university graduate immigrants regarding finding a good job related to their qualification in the labour market, and how this struggle has shaped their lives. Data was collected through individuals by semi-structured questionnaires. Interviews were the deep source of skilled immigrants’ experiences and problems they have faced in the labour market. Applying the critical race theory perspective and using the Thompson PCS Model as investigating tool, this study sought to capture the participants’ reality. The findings suggest that immigrants are facing many structural and systemic barriers and racial discrimination in the labour market. It is affecting them not only individually but also affecting their families and because of that these skilled immigrants have a plan to leave Canada for better job opportunities because even after graduating from Canadian universities they were unable to find work according to their field of study and work experience. Major themes emerging from this research include: why skilled immigrants pursued more education if they were already graduated from their home countries; immigration policies and labour market policies mismatch; non-recognition of immigrants credentials and work experience; inadequate settlement services; racial discrimination in job market; and what difference they feel before and after graduating from Canadian university in finding a job. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)