Kepreye Otrofanowei; Employment Consultant with Build ON
As a newcomer to Canada labour market information is a concept that should be of great interest to you. When moving to a new country there are a lot of uncertainties particularly in terms of what locations provide the most lucrative opportunities for your intended occupation as well as what qualifications and skills employers place a premium on when hiring candidates. Understanding and knowing how to search for the most accurate LMI for your field is the first step in planning a successful life in Canada. This blog post will provide information on the importance of LMI and also provide you with tools to navigate accurate LMI.
First of all, what is labour market information? LMI is a source of information on what jobs and skills employers are looking for, which job areas are growing, what education and training you need for certain jobs, where to find employers that are hiring, and many more. Knowledge about LMI could be significant in determining where you should live as it provides you with information on what locations have the best prospects for your occupation which in turn provides more concrete direction about where to settle.
Now, understanding what LMI is and its benefits to your integration is important but what is even more important is finding accurate LMI. You can find information on general LMI on government websites, industry websites, the news, public libraries, business directories, employment services Ontario that and more. Government websites like Job Bank, Ontario Job Futures, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada provide information on career trends, employment patterns, general salary information and top locations for jobs in your field. Many websites also have information about general LMI and you can find a list of some of these on settlement.org.
The Government of Canada’s Job Bank specifically has a Foreign Credential Recognition in Canada Tool designed for newcomers which provides information specific to the job requirements for your industry in Canada. This tool provides information on whether your desired occupation is regulated, the regulatory body, the length of time it may take to get recognition, the cost of recognition, the related fields/alternative career prospects, salary expectations and much more information that could be relevant as you seek to start your new life in Canada.
There is no one size fits all approach to figuring out LMI but there is a guide to using labour market information in Ontario that could be a good starting point if you are interested in figuring this out. If you are an approved Build ON client the good news is that your employment consultant is equipped with tools and resources to provide you with detailed information and LMI. Register today if you are not already registered to get access to these resources.