Employment

One of the biggest challenges facing newcomers to Kingston is finding meaningful employment. Difficulties in gaining Canadian work experience and accessing the “hidden” or informal job market can limit newcomers to low-paying “survival jobs” during their initial time in Kingston. Employers may not be aware of the challenges that newcomers face, or how to best support immigrant employees in the workplace. Newcomer entrepreneurs may also have difficulty in finding the information and resources they need to start their own business.

Goals

Goal 1: Employers, immigrant-serving agencies and community stakeholders in Kingston will work together to ensure that employers are supported in creating high-quality opportunities for newcomers.

Goal 2: Information systems and community networks ensure that newcomers and newcomer families have access to the local job market.

Goal 3: Newcomers to Kingston find the support needed to start their own businesses.