Organizers:

Alice Nakamura
University of Alberta
CANADA
alice.nakamura@ualberta.ca

Elizabeth Ruddick
Citizenship and Immigration CANADA
elizabeth.ruddick@8754bss.cina.cic.x400.gc.ca

Description:

In Canada, the economic performance of immigrants who landed in the 1990s appears to have deteriorated significantly relative to those immigrants who landed in the 1980s. A similar pattern is observed for segments of the prime-aged male population, Canadian-born and educated.

In this workshop, the focus is on institutional factors in the international context. Questions to be be addressed include: what is the role of income support programs and institutions in influencing the particular groups whose labour market performance has been impacted? More specifically, how do the following factors play into the labour market performance of recent immigrants: minimum wages, access to social assistance, employment insurance, role of unions, bridging and training programs, role of federal vs. state or provincial governments, credentials recognition? What are the similarities and/or differences across countries? What do these comparisons tell us about the validity, or interpretation, of comparative research results? What cautions, if any, should be applied when analyzing comparative results?

Presenters