This analysis of statistical results from the Workplace and Employee Survey reports on a comparative analysis of training by immigration status. This research paper by Senior Researcher Clarence Lochhead shows that recent immigration status is associated with lower participation rates in employer-sponsored training, and it provides clues about the factors likely to influence training participation rates.
The survey data shows that recent immigrant employees are twice as likely as Canadian-born employees to have a university degree, but despite this higher level of education, they are less likely to receive employer-sponsored training, whether in the form of classroom training or on-the-job training. The differences in relation to the Canadian-born are even more pronounced among men, older workers and those without post-secondary education.
Existing research on the determinants of employer-sponsored training and adult education has identified numerous and often complex phenomena that can affect participation in training. This analysis shows that whatever the reasons, reduced opportunity for employer-sponsored training can result in the under-utilization of immigrant skills, as data on educational attainment (by immigrant status) in relation to education required for the job shows. At the policy level, the focus may need to shift from trying to increase the pool of available skilled labour to promoting a better maintenance – through training – and utilization of this pool.
