Project INSIGHTS REPORT

A Newcomer Employment Resilience Network NL (NERN NL) – Optimizing Connections; Making the Match

Inclusive Economy, Pathways to jobs

Executive Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic meant there were less networking opportunities and increased challenges for professionals who were newly arrived in Newfoundland. The Association for New Canadians (ANC) created the Newcomer Employment Resilience Network (NERN) to address these challenges and gaps in support for newcomers experiencing workforce disruptions and employers who were forced to change how they operate.

Over a two-year period from 2021 to 2023, the ANC team engaged 167 newcomers and 115 local employers and businesses in 36 sector-specific sessions and workshops and connected 49 newcomer professionals to mentors in relevant sectors. Overall, 87% of mentees felt the program met or exceeded their expectations including improved job search skills and knowledge of Canadian workplace culture. For local employers and businesses, 90% said they became more aware of and better understood newcomer professionals and their skills. However, only 30% said hiring skilled newcomer professionals was a significant outcome of participating in the program.

The project demonstrated how sector-specific networks can improve job prospects for newcomers and foster collaboration among local employers and businesses. The initiative also showed the value of tailored mentoring and involving community agencies to better integrate newcomers into the job market.

CONTRIBUTOR

Ramsha Naveed,
Innovation Lab Specialist at FSC

Date PUBLSHED

August 2023

PARtner

Association for New Canadians (ANC), formerly AXIS Career Services

Locations

Newfoundland and Labrador

INvestment

$270,420.00

Final evaluation report:
Newcomer Employment Resilience Network Newfoundland and Labrador

The Issue

Professional networking was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it especially difficult for newcomers and international graduates to “get their foot in the door.” The absence of in-person events and closures of physical workplaces made it hard for job seekers to connect with recruiters, employers and industry experts. This situation exacerbated common challenges recent immigrants already face such as layoffs, underemployment, social isolation, sense of hopelessness and loss of skills.

What We’re Investigating

During the early stages of the pandemic, the ANC team saw many impacts of COVID-19 on the labour market for highly skilled newcomers in professions like IT, research, oil and gas and finance. Seeing a gap in support for newcomers who were experiencing workforce disruptions and employers who were forced to change how they operated, the ANC team proposed the development of a Newcomer Employment Resilience Network (NERN). 

NERN tested whether it was possible to improve employment opportunities for newcomers while helping local businesses adapt to changing conditions through collaboration and knowledge sharing. Network activities included 36 sector-specific sessions and workshops, as well as a mentorship program that connected 49 newcomers to mentors in relevant careers.

What We’re Learning

This project engaged and supported roughly 300 people in network building, skills development and knowledge sharing activities, which included 36 sector-specific sessions and workshops. In total, 167 newcomer professionals and 115 local employers, businesses and industry experts from 65 companies across three sectors (IT, resources and finance) participated between March 5, 2021, and March 31, 2023. 

From this group, 49 newcomers were matched with 49 mentors for three months, all of whom either completed the three-month mentorship, or got a job ahead of the match ending. 87% of newcomer respondents said the program met or exceeded their expectations. The benefits they experienced included knowing more about job searching techniques, Canadian workplace culture and upskilling opportunities. For some respondents, the mentorship program supported them in securing interviews and jobs.

For key local employers and businesses who participated in the network, 90% felt their awareness and understanding of newcomer professionals and their skills improved. However, only 30% said identifying and hiring skilled newcomer professionals was an important network outcome for them. 

Key factors that contributed to NERN’s success included the quality of employment supports and programs offered by ANC as well as the significant time and effort invested by the project team in building and nurturing relationships with local employers and businesses.

What’s Next

With the infrastructure and partnerships from the NERN project in place, the ANC team is primed to continue its work with existing collaborators and also attract new ones — with this project potentially informing all future employer engagement efforts in the organization. Currently, their plan is to incorporate the network approach and learnings into ANC’s long-term strategic plan.