In Fall 2019 we knew there were many gaps and needs for newcomer women (because of our previous research Making Grey Bruce Home). IRCC funding allowed us to identify barriers to newcomer employment. We talked with those most affected: visible minority newcomer women and their prospective employers.

Three surveys were created to identify the employment and preemployment barriers of visible minority newcomer women in Grey Bruce. It targeted visible minority newcomer and immigrant women in the region to capture the challenges that have been faced by this population for as far back as possible, because this is the first time the region is looking at catering supports for this specific population.

Key findings of the survey

Respondents in both counties indicated that they face the same kinds of challenge, such as language barrier, cultural barriers, lack of social connections, lack of Canadian experience.

The biggest challenge perceived by the respondents in the two counties in each stage of the employment pathway was different. For example, the respondents in Grey County indicated that discrimination was the biggest challenge when looking for work or starting a business, whereas the respondents in Bruce County reported that their biggest challenge was that their overseas education and work experience was not recognized.

In addition to challenges generally faced by job seekers, the respondents reported that, when looking for employment, they also experienced barriers common to newcomers.

The survey results reflect that the respondents faced multiple barriers to labour market entry and career advancement, and addressing these barriers would require the women, employers, employer service and other service provider organizations, community group, and community members to work together.

The respondents indicated that they continued to face barriers and needed support after getting a job or starting a business.

The results of the survey were used by the Rural Pathways project to develop and test programs that address the employment and preemployment barriers visible minority newcomer women in Grey Bruce face, including A Rural Pathways to Employment Toolkit.

Rural Pathways for Newcomer Women in Grey Bruce — Toolkits

related resources

We have developed new resources for Grey Bruce, and any rural community that wants to improve the economic and social integration of newcomer women

Success for Everyone Toolkit

Pathways to Employment Assessment Tool

Rural Pathways Project Developmental Evaluation Report

Newcomer Women in Grey Bruce Survey Report

Employer, Employment Services and Community Stakeholders Consultation Report

The Rural Pathways for Newcomer Women in Grey Bruce project ended on March 31st 2021. The project was extremely successful, despite the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic! Diverse newcomers, community groups and organizations learned about barriers to employment that newcomer women experience in Grey Bruce, then developed new tools and resources for newcomer women, employers and our community. More than 200 people from all walks of life and backgrounds participated in this 18 month project — an indication of the importance of this work for newcomers, employers and community members.

Thank you to everyone who participated in surveys, interviews, on the Project Advisory Committee, as members of the Employment and Newcomer Sub Committees, participants at the Virtual Mixer and Knowledge Exchange workshops and to all of the participants who attended Employer Training webinars, and Skill Building Workshops for Newcomer Women. We couldn’t have done it without our engaged community members.

Thanks as well to the board of Welcoming Communities and United Way of Bruce Grey for their administrative support. A very big thank you to May Ip and Olga Gura, for outstanding project coordination and leadership. Finally, thanks go to IRCC for funding this important research and development project.

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