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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]

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]

During the 1990s, the Czech Republic became a land of immigration and transit. Regulating the flow of immigrants and integrating them have become major issues. The principal characteristics of immigration to the Czech Republic are described. Given current population trends - a negative balance and the increasingly top-heavy age pyramid - immigration will not offset losses. Immigrants, legal as well as illegal, play an important role in the Czech labor market. The results of a survey of immigrants sheds light on the conditions and processes underlying this economic immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2001-2004 we conducted 22 interviews with immigrants from North Africa in Montreal and Sherbrooke. The objective was to access their representations of the problems they experience in integrating the labor market in both cities. Some interviews (15) were also conducted with persons working with immigrants looking for a job. The objective is to link individual and collective trajectories by putting the emphasis on the social networks held by these immigrants. Results show that the presence of a community of origin in a migratory context cannot guarantee access to a viable social network providing access to information and jobs. In that sense institutional supports and programs may favor an increase of social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]