Quebec immigrants more likely to be unemployed, overqualified, report finds

New arrivals to Quebec experience higher unemployment, have lower incomes and are more overqualified for their jobs than other Quebecers, according to a new report by a Montreal research group.

The report, published by theInstitutde recherche et d'informations socio-conomiques (IRIS), found that in the past ten years, the unemployment rate for immigrants (11.2per cent) has been nearly double that of people born in Canada (5.8per cent).

Furthermore,43 per centof immigrants are overqualified for their jobs, compared to 29.7per cent ofQuebecerswho are overqualified.

Mohammad, whose last name has been omitted toprotect his identityand his job prospects,came to Canada more than two years ago as a refugee and is now a permanent resident.

But hehas been unable to finda job as an accountant, despite being atthe top of his field in his native Syriaand in Qatar where he worked and taught.

"When I was working in Qatar at age 30, I was making the equivalent of $100 USper hour. I was the youngest instructor [at the Qatar Finance and Business Academy] and I was doing very well," he told CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

"I was wearing a suit and a tie and speaking in conferences. But now, in Canada, I'm looking to work in a restaurant or a shop."

• Couillard government to look into systemic racism in Quebec
• Canadians cannot be overly impatient with integration of immigrants, Justin Trudeau says

Thousands of resums, little response

Since arriving in Canada, Mohammad estimates he has sent nearly 3,000 resums to companies across Canada. Of those,he claims that only six or seven have resulted in responses, and three or four have ended in interviews.

Although these interviews have gone well and employers have shown interest, Mohammad says they have nearly all eventually stoppedcontacting him.

• JohnMcCallumwants to 'substantially increase' immigration to fill Canada's labour needs

Mohammad has landed a couple short-term accounting contracts, which have brought him to Toronto. His contracts have expired, and he's again unemployed. He'd like to return to Montreal, but is ready to go wherever the work is.

"I've even submitted my resum to companies in the north," he said.

Discrimination by employers?

Although he says he cannot yet pinpoint what drives this pattern, Mohammad thinks it has something to do with discrimination against him because of his identity especially his name.

The report similarly attributes theemployment situation of immigrants in Quebec to discrimination in the labour market, and argues the increasing racialization of immigrants to Canada has intensifieddiscrimination on the part of employers.

• Lack of 'Canadian experience' an obstacle to immigrant employment

IRIS researcher Julia Posca wrote the report and said while she applauds the government's openness to immigrants, she argues that is not enough.

"We should focus more on the Quebec government's lack of efforts to reduce this inequality," said Posca.

"It's good that we're open to immigration, but once we accept people in the country, we have toget the job they hope they get. We fail our immigrants when we tell them you're going to get a better life here, and that's not what's happening."