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Given an ageing population and a persistent low birth rate, several industrialized countries have chosen to attract immigrant labour, as evidenced in a recent report by OECD (2012). However, the integration of immigrants in the labour market poses several challenges. Thus, in Quebec, compared to natives, immigrants participate less often in the labour market and tend to occupy lower quality jobs. This study aims to highlight the last finding by using two databases largely neglected in the analysis of the integration of immigrants: The Labour Force Survey (LFS) and a survey of the conditions of work, employment, health and work security in Quebec (EQCOTESST). In addition to examining the usual indicators such as the participation rate, the employment rate and the unemployment rate, this study is interested in unique dimensions which have never been taken into consideration, such as overqualification, job quality as well as physical and psychological conditions of work. As expected, the results confirm that the economic performance of Quebec immigrants is lower than that of the native-born Quebecers. In addition, there is a greater presence of immigrants in low quality jobs, but a smaller presence in high quality jobs, while the reverse is true for native workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To satisfy its need for seasonal low-skilled labourers, Canada is hiring temporary foreign workers (TFWs). As part of a study on the management issues related to the hiring of TFWs, employers and informants from related NGOs and governmental agencies were interviewed about their motivations to use TFWs. The primary motivation, unlike that which would be expected, is not cost savings. The interest in hiring TFWs would appear to be based on cost-utility considerations, including the benefit of an available, efficient, loyal workforce during the whole season and the flexibility for employers to reduce risk and uncertainties related to the availability of labour. Employers thus give preference to TFWs rather than local workers, because they meet the entirety of their expectations of workforce flexibility, be it numerically or in relation to scheduling, remuneration or skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants account for almost a quarter of the Canadian working-age population and in the wake of the aging of the population this proportion is deemed to increase even more. Yet despite their high-level education, immigrants experience difficulty in integrating into the Canadian labour market. Many factors are put forth to account for this such as a lack of recognition for their foreign credentials, the uneven quality of their diplomas, their insufficient knowledge of the official languages, discrimination, etc. This paper points out a less frequently emphasised factor that could partly explain the immigrants’ difficulties to integrate into the labour market: their literacy skills. Using the OECD’s survey data on adult skills (PIAAC), the authors compare the literacy skills of the immigrants and the Canadian-born population. This study focuses on active participants in the labour market aged between 25 and 54 years old. Results suggest that the higher level of overqualification observed among immigrants could partly be explained by their lower literacy skill level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]