The Challenge of Finding Adequate Employment 

Source: Health Canada website and Media Photo Gallery, Health Canada, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2006.

The unemployment rate for members of visible minority groups is generally higher than in the general population.  For many refugees and immigrants the credentials, educational and achievement, as well as work skills they bring with them are not recognized here in , creating a tremendous barrier to obtaining good employment.  For example, in Ottawa almost 50% of immigrants with university degrees were unemployed or in non-professional or semi-professional jobs according to 1991 Census data.