Canadian Immigrants’ Access to a First Job in Their Intended Occupation

Abstract

Using detailed information on employment trajectory provided by the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada, this study examines the labor market outcomes of recent immigrants in terms of the duration until access to a first job in their intended occupation, as determined by a question in the first wave interview on labor market intentions. The matching between actual and intended occupations is obtained from the first two digits of the National Occupational Classification codes, which consider successively occupation type and skill level. Using a Cox proportional hazards model, the study investigates the roles of factors related to human and social capital in speeding up the matching process between actual and intended occupations. It is found that the initial year in Canada is critical for an immigrant to land a job in the intended field; after that period, the hazards of finding employment in the intended occupation flatten down. In general, those with intention to work in nonprofessional jobs, such as sales and services, trades, transport and equipment operators, primary industry, and processing and manufacturing occupations, enter the first job in the intended occupation more quickly. The results also show that education, English language ability, Canadian work experience, and friend networks facilitate access to the intended occupation.