December 22, 2017 – Newfoundland & Labrador is to spend nearly $400,000 on two new pilot jobs programs aimed at international students and graduates
The Atlantic province wants to make it easier for graduates to stay on and begin their working lives in N.L.
The initiatives will be funded through the Labour Market Partnerships Program and run by the province’s Association for New Canadians (ANC).
Eileen Kelly-Freake, director of career services for the ANC, said: “Undoubtedly, international graduates and students have much to offer local employers, especially in terms of their education, work and life experiences, multilingualism, and global networks.”
The new programs are:
1) Student Internship Pilot Program
The Student Internship Pilot Program will aim to offer international students with 12-week internships in their field of study at N.L. businesses. Candidates must be enrolled on a full-time basis at recognized post-secondary N.L. institutions.
2) My First Job in Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot Program
International graduates specifically from Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic will be matched to 16-week placements in their field of study under the My First Job in Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot Program.
“We encourage the business community to avail of this opportunity to build our community, and to employ these skilled and talented individuals,” said Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.
The programs are part of a move by the N.L. provincial government to address a shrinking labour market and aging population through immigration. As part of a new project named ‘The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador’, the province is aiming to welcome 1,700 newcomers per year by 2022.
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The pilot programs come after the N.L. immigration office announced a change to the requirements for the province’s International Graduate category recently.
Under the change, candidates who graduate from Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic can qualify for the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program category despite their job or job offer being in a field different from their studies.
To qualify, candidates require:
- A post-secondary degree or diploma or an equivalent amount of experience;
- A job or job offer that corresponds to NOC level 0, A, B or C;
- A job or job offer reasonably expected to lead to career advancement;
- A recent combination of skill, experience and/or training, according to the NOC description, in the field they are working;
- A job or job offer that is full-time and indeterminate;
- A job or job offer in a position responding to a labour market need in Newfoundland & Labrador.
Graduates of schools other than Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic remain subject to the original category requirements.
General Requirements: Newfoundland & Labrador International Graduate Category
- Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada and have graduated from an eligible publicly funded Canadian college or university;
- Have completed at minimum a two-year diploma or degree program, while studying on a full-time basis with opportunity for advancement;
- Have a full-time job offer in their field of study, or a related field of study, from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer;
- Have applied to the NLPNP within two years of the date on which they received their degree or diploma;
- Have legal status to work in Canada; that is to say, have an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Post-Graduate Work Permit;
- Have the qualifications, training, skills, and accreditation required for the job;
- Demonstrate the intention and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador;
- Can demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to successfully establish themselves and any dependents in Newfoundland and Labrador;
- Can demonstrate sufficient English or French language capability to perform the employment duties.
International graduates can also achieve Newfoundland & Labrador immigration through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.
The province has an allocation of up to 442 immigrants on top of its provincial nominee allocation under the pilot, which is operated by the federal government in partnership with each of the four Atlantic provinces.
Th employer-led pilot involves streams for high and intermediate-skilled workers, as well as international graduates.
Requirements: Atlantic Immigration Pilot International Graduates Program
Candidates must have:
- A minimum two-year degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship credential from a recognized publicly-funded institution in an Atlantic province.
- Been a full-time student in Canada for at least two years.
- Graduated in the 12 months prior to the application date.
- Lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months in the last two years before graduation.
- Had a visa or permit to work, study or train in Canada.
A candidate does not qualify if their study or training included:
- English or French second language courses for more than half of the program.
- Distance learning undertaken for more than half of the program.
A candidate cannot apply if their scholarship or fellowship required them to return to their home country after graduation.
Job offers for international graduates must:
- Be skill type/level 0, A, B, or C
- Last at least one year
The federal government sees international graduates as blue chip new permanent residents: young people with a Canadian education, knowledge of the official languages, often with Canadian work experience and knowledge of how life works here. This puts them already on the pathway to fast integration into Canadian society.
Since coming to power in fall 2015, the federal government has attempted to make it easier for international students to gain permanent residence.
At the federal level, the government has introduced points under Canada Express Entry. In November 2016, Comprehensive Ranking System points were added for three-year post secondary, master’s, professional degrees and doctorates (30 CRS points) and post-secondary diplomas lasting one or two years (15 CRS points). No points are awarded for a Canadian high school education or below. This gives many graduates the extra push they need to achieve a coveted Invitation to Apply.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
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