Domonique Bradford, an accountant, talks about systemic failures and massive underemployment. An immigrant author, Founder of Warmina Foundation, she talks about her journey. She lists down some pain points that most immigrants experience. The issue that she raises has been a talking point for most immigrants—-underemployement.
Underemployment
According to an article in Toronto Star In 2021, there were 6.4 million individuals in Canada who held a bachelor’s degree or above, accounting for 32.9% of the working-age population. That is an increase from 28.5% in 2016.Although they account for over half of the 4.3-point gain, the agency stated that recent immigrants are still more likely to be overqualified for the occupations they hold.
“When immigrants apply for PR they are given points for their qualification and that very qualification is not good enough once you are here, Profit and Loss in a balance sheet is no different in Africa, Asia, then why do they have to go through the degree again?”
“A short bridging course or an exam should be sufficient to evaluate their knowledge and skill. The process of going through the rigor again isn’t everybody’s cup of tea.” On one hand, underemployed immigrants are frustrated, and on the other hand there is genuine shortage—-none of it serves Canada well.
