Immigrant barriers exacerbate skills gap in Canadian SMEs, study finds

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada face growing challenges due to skills shortages, particularly in rapidly expanding cities, according to new research by The Conference Board of Canada. The study highlights that despite Canada’s reliance on immigration to fill workforce gaps, many immigrants encounter barriers in the job market, including language requirements and complex immigration systems.

Stefan Fournier, executive director at The Conference Board, emphasized the need for SMEs to dismantle these barriers. The report encourages collaboration between SMEs and immigrant-serving organizations to enhance recruitment, retention, and integration of immigrant talent. Addressing these challenges is vital to leveraging the full potential of Canada’s immigrant workforce and alleviating the skills shortage crisis.