B.C. employers must be given the tools to leverage immigrant talent to match their workforce needs, according an Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) report.
The BC Employer Consultation Report: Recruiting & Retaining Immigrant Talent is the result of an independent study of B.C. employers' engagement in, and issues relating to, the recruitment and retention of skilled immigrants.
IEC-BC board chair Bob Elton said, "B.C. employers must have a stronger voice in the development of policies, programs and services that impact the attraction and retention of global talent".
More than 150 employers – many of them small or medium-sized enterprises – participated in 15 focus groups across seven B.C. communities and eight industry sectors.
Kerry Jothen, project leader and CEO of Human Capital Strategies, said, "The report represents the most recent comprehensive qualitative research initiative with B.C. employers that addresses this critical workforce development issue".
According to the IEC-BC, the province is entering an unprecedented era of talent scarcity and increasing global competition for talent.
B.C. employers indicated they understand the business case for employing immigrants, but are challenged in doing so by the lack of support, policies, programs and services.
The organization said immigrant recruitment policies and programs that are enabling, accessible and flexible will support economic growth while giving immigrants the opportunity to use their skills and experience.
