The strategies of Polish immigrant women in their search for entry into the professional labour market in Canada

Magdalena Maria Kazmierczak

doi:10.32920/ryerson.14663367.v1

Abstract

This paper explores strategies of five Polish immigrant women in their search to enter the professional labour market in Canada. This study focuses on the most effective methods these women utilized in order for them to become successful. This study found that, despite their challenges and experiences, their way to success was strongly influenced by four main strategies they used to overcome these barriers. These are: use of Canadian government and other employment services/programs; networking within own ethnic community; improving their proficiency in English; and perseverance in the process of search for employment in Canada. This major research paper shows that there is much to learn from the strategies used by these Polish professional immigrant women for entering the professional labour market in Canada. The results will be presented in the form of research implications and practical applications for policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, and researchers.

Highlights

IntroductionImmigrants to Canada have been coming in waves, partly as a result of changing socio-political conditions in their countries of origin, and partly as a result of changes in Canada's immigration policies
Religious persecution and a poor economy further stimulated the out-migration of Poles at this time (Heydenkorn, 2008)
Data from this study show that the participants utilized various strategies for entering the professional labour market, and despite many barriers and challenges, eventually obtained successful employment. These strategies include use of government employment programs/services, networking, improving their proficiency in English, and perseverance. These findings show that government employment programs, or training opportunities funded by the government are essential for entry into the labour market because without the basic information, training opportunities, and job placements they provide, it would be very difficult for women such as my research participants to enter the professional labour market

Summary

Introduction

Immigrants to Canada have been coming in waves, partly as a result of changing socio-political conditions in their countries of origin, and partly as a result of changes in Canada's immigration policies. Religious persecution and a poor economy further stimulated the out-migration of Poles at this time (Heydenkorn, 2008) Those who arrived in Canada at this time either worked on farms or in coal mines; the majority were poorly educated and "entered into the lowest socio-economic rungs of society in the new setting" (Radecki, 1979). Many of them arrive in Canada as dependents of men, and are much less familiar with English or French, or job-search strategies in the new environment They have to play dual roles of family care-givers as well as income generators. Many of them end up taking 'survival jobs which require minimal skills, little or no proficiency in English or French, and pay very little These are usually temporary or short-term jobs but require long hours of physical work.

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