Newcomers to Sask. can struggle to find jobs in their career paths, but there are resources to help

This story is part of Welcome to Canada, a CBC News series about immigration told through the eyes of the people who have experienced it.

When Busayo Olufayo immigrated to Canada to join his wife, he thought he would be able to find a job right away.

Originally from Nigeria, Olufayo has more than 20 years experience working in human resources, and he was awarded a spousal work permit. But it took him six months to find employment, and it wasn't a job in HR.

"I started with the parking attendant," he said. "From there I worked as a customer service representative."

Olufayo then came across the Regina Open Door Society's career bridging program, which gave him helpful resources. He got a job with the provincial government as an HR payroll administrator for a bit of time, before returning to the Open Door Society as an employment counsellor, where he helps others find employment opportunities and training. 

"Starting small doesn't mean you are going to end small," he told CBC Radio's Blue Sky guest host Adam Hunter. 

Many other newcomers have experiences like Olufayo's, finding it difficult to get jobs in their chosen career paths.

According to a recent Pollara survey commissioned by CBC, 54 per cent of surveyed immigrants said it was difficult finding a job in their field. Additionally, just over 15 per cent reported their credentials or academic degrees weren't recognized in Canada. 

LISTEN | Sask. immigrants share their job search journeys: 

Blue Sky48:49Sask. immigrants share their job search journeys

Today guest host Adam Hunter was joined by four recent immigrants who shared their experiences trying to find meaningful work in their fields here in Saskatchewan. They shared their struggles and spoke about the programs and resources they found helpful in bridging their previous job experience with work here in Saskatchewan.

"If you're coming into a new system like this, don't have to expect that you will maintain the same status that you are coming from back home," Olufayo said. "You have to be willing and ready to adjust, and learn something new." 

Olufayo said the Regina Open Door Society has some great programming and resources for immigrants. 

"The career bridging program is a fantastic program," he said. "We have the E4E, which is English for Employment. We have first aid training, a lot of job readiness workshops that will help new immigrants new to Regina to actually achieve their goals." 

'Still looking for a permanent position'

Alina Shylan immigrated to Canada in 2022, fleeing the war in Ukraine. 

She holds a masters in business and administration, specialized in marketing and sales, but when she arrived in Regina, she struggled to find employment and needed to find a way to rebuild her resume.

Shylan said the career bridging program at the Regina Open Door Society was a big help, and she was able to secure her first job in the city, a casual position as a cashier with the City of Regina.

She is still working there while taking the career enhancement program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. 

"I attend Sask. Polytech's career enhancement program because I am still looking for a permanent position," she said. 

It also gives her the opportunity to build her English skills.

"I recommended Sask. Polytech to everybody because they have more focus on digital skills, they have coaching, they have provided information on how to interview."