Opinion Research Scan E-newsletter – August 2011

Environics: Nearly half of newcomers feel under-employed

Background: The findings were conducted by Environics Research Group on behalf of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in April 2011. Environics conducted a total of 608 online interviews among Chinese and South Asian immigrant residents in British Columbia and Ontario who are first generation and have lived in Canada for 10 years or less. Quotas were applied to represent the different regions and tenure in Canada. Data was weighted according to population data from 2006 Census to represent the population as closely as possible.

Key Findings:

• 49% of newcomers feel under-employed.
  • After being in Canada for six to 10 years, this number was reduced to 32%.
  • Despite this, only 12% feel locked into a job that may not lead to a position in their desired occupation.
• Less than one third (31%) of respondents have a job in their chosen field and over one-third (36%) have a job that is at a lower level than what they previously had, or would have had, in their country of origin.
• 52% of newcomers measure success based on their career (including both having a well-paying job, and working in their field of expertise).
  • After being established for a longer period of time (six to seven years) family and health become more important as definitions of success (with 47% and 30% citing these factors, respectively).
• 42% of immigrants indicated that they sought out information about career options in Canada before deciding to move.
  • 29% searched for information to determine whether there was a demand for their career experience;
  • 24% researched whether or not they would need to be recertified to meet Canadian standards.
• Respondents feel that the biggest barriers in obtaining their desired job are lack of Canadian experience (39%), lack of available jobs in their area of expertise (30%) and language skill barriers (28%).
  • If they found they were unable to find a job in their career field, the vast majority would consider returning to school (82%), adjusting their goals (75%) or starting a business (73%).

Learning Canada’s history strengthens sense of attachment, Leger study finds

Background: This study, commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies, was conducted by Leger Marketing from March 3rd to 5th, 2011. The poll surveyed 1032 Canadians via a web panel; an equivalent phone survey would have a margin of error of 3.9% 19 times out of 20. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• When asked which activities would have an impact in strengthening their attachment to Canada, the activity deemed to have the most significant impact was learning more about Canada’s history (78% of Canadians agreed).
  • Of the 32% who felt that learning Canada’s history had a “big impact”, 37% were Allophones, followed by 32% Francophones and 30% Anglophones (see chart).
  • Canadians of 18-24 years of age were less likely to feel that learning Canada’s history strengthened attachment – 67% of this group felt the activity was effective, compared to at least 75% of other age groups (peaking at 84% among those 55-64).
• The next most popular activities for fuelling patriotism were watching a Canadian performer succeed internationally (70% felt this was impactful), participating in an exchange program outside your province (67%), and living in another province (67%).
• The activities deemed least effective in strengthening attachment to Canada were working for the federal government (52%), learning the other official language (56%), and participating in Canada Day activities (59%).
• Respondents who already felt a strong attachment to Canada were more likely than others to feel that the activities listed strengthened patriotism. For example, 86% of the “strongly attached group” felt that learning Canada’s history was effective, compared to 70% of the “somewhat attached”, 50% of the “not very attached” and 25% of the “not at all attached”.
  • Among those who felt “not at all attached” to Canada, the activities deemed most effective in boosting patriotism were living in another province (43%), joining the armed forces (43%), and working for the federal government (35%).
     
    Of those who felt the activities had a “big impact”, by language
    
    Text version: Of those who felt the activities had a “big impact”, by language

Focus Canada 2010 offers insight into Canadians’ perceptions of immigration and multiculturalism

Background: Focus Canada 2010 is the first report produced in the Focus Canada program, founded by the Environics Institute for Survey Research. The goal of the program is to provide sustained public opinion on matters relevant to Canadians to better inform organizational decision-making. More information on the program, as well as the full Focus Canada 2010 report, is available here.

Key Findings:

• According to the report, 56% of Canadians disagree with the statement that “overall, there is just too much immigration in Canada,” while 40% agree.
• 80% of Canadians agree that “immigration has a positive impact on the economy of Canada,” with 17% of respondents in disagreement.
• 73% of Canadians disagree with the idea that “immigrants take jobs away from other Canadians,” while 24% agree – the provinces with respondents more likely to agree are Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.
• 59% of Canadians feel that “many people claiming to be refugees are not real refugees,” marking a four-point increase from 2008. 29% disagree with the statement (a decrease of five points).
  • 69% of Albertans agree with the statement, compared to only 43% in Quebec.
• 66% of Canadians agree that “there are too many immigrants coming into this country who are not adopting Canadian values.”
  • This number returns to 2006 levels, and this perception has increased across all of Canada. Albertans are most likely to agree with the statement (71%), while Manitoba and Atlantic Canada are less likely to agree (59% each). The smallest increase in this perception was among Quebeckers, where agreement rose only one point, to 64%.
• Four in ten Canadians strongly (13%) or somewhat (29%) favour accepting political refugees who do not qualify for entry into Canada under normal channels, while a larger proportion somewhat (22%) or strongly (28%) oppose such a policy.  
• Support for accepting all refugees is greatest in Quebec (though still a minority at 48%) and lowest in B.C. (34%), as well as among allophones, low income Canadians and those without a high school diploma.
• 76% of Canadians agree that ethnic groups should avoid forming diasporas and instead integrate into Canadian society. This opinion is most prevalent in Quebec, with 88% of residents in support of the statement. The only region to not see an increase in agreement was Atlantic Canada.

Mental preparation is key when arriving in Canada, say newcomers

Background: The findings were conducted by Environics Research Group on behalf of RBC in April 2011. Environics conducted a total of 608 online interviews among Chinese and South Asian immigrant residents in British Columbia and Ontario who are first generation and have lived in Canada for 10 years or less. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of ±4 percentage points 19 times out of 20 of what the results would have been had the entire population of Chinese and South immigrants in Canada been polled.

Key Findings:

• Nearly six in ten respondents (58%) agreed that mental preparation is key for successful immigration to Canada. Three in ten (30%) agreed that newcomers must be open to trade-offs or making sacrifices, and nearly as many (28%) felt that positivity and patience are critical to achieving long-term results.
• To prepare for immigration to Canada, nearly half of respondents (47%) conducted online research about life in Canada. One third (33%) talked to friends and family already in Canada to seek help and advice, and another 33% refreshed their language skills.
• Of newcomers who had already settled, nearly half 46% defined success based on “mind/spirit” qualities (a sense of inner peace, and enjoying daily events). Women were more likely than to define success in these terms (54% compared to 39% respectively), as men were more likely to base success on a career (57% of men defined success this way as opposed to 47% of women).

Exploring Awareness and Perception of Foreign Credential Recognition: HRSDC and CIC joint project

Background: HRSDC and CIC identified a need to further explore the issue of Foreign Credential Recognition with the intention of better understanding the needs of newcomers to Canada and of employers, as well as awareness, perceptions and opinions among the general population. The research program consisted of three components: a quantitative telephone survey of the general public, qualitative focus group research with newcomers, and qualitative in-depth interviews with employers. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• Compared to their views on the number of immigrants generally, Canadians are substantially more likely to feel there are “too few” skilled immigrants coming to Canada: 11% feel there are “too few” immigrants generally coming to Canada, but this increases to 34% for skilled immigrants.
  • In the case of the number of immigrants generally, the majority (58%) feel the number is either “about right” or “too many”, while in the case of skilled immigrants specifically, the majority (74%) feel the number is either “about right” or “too few.”
• The majority of Canadians (73%) believe bringing in skilled immigrants has a positive impact on Canada’s economy. Among the balance, 11% believe the impact is neither positive nor negative, and only 13% perceive the impact as negative.
  • Among those who perceive the impact as positive, the top three reasons are: to fill labour shortages, having a skilled labour force is important for the economy, and skilled immigrants are able and willing to work. Among those who perceive the impact as negative, the main reason is a belief priority should be put on opportunities for people already living in Canada.
• The large majority of Canadians (77%) agree that skilled labour shortages have an impact on Canada’s overall economic prosperity. Just over half of Canadians (56%) believe in putting a priority on bringing in skilled immigrants to address labour shortages, although about one-third (34%) disagree with doing this.
• Just over half (54%) of Canadians claim to be aware that most of Canada’s net labour force growth in the future will come from immigration.
• A large majority of Canadians (85%) somewhat or strongly support increasing the number of internationally trained health care professionals in order to address labour shortages in this sector. Only 9% tend to oppose this, primarily because they believe priority should be on employment in the health care sector for people already living in Canada.
• Approximately one in five Canadians (21%) recall stories about problems with the standard of care provided by internationally trained health care professionals. Those who claim to have seen such stories are less likely to support bringing in more internationally trained health care professionals, although it is still the case that a majority support this initiative. Among those who have seen stories, 75% supporting bringing in more internationally trained health care professionals, compared to 87% among those who have not seen such stories.
• Approximately three-quarters (76%) of Canadians are aware some skilled immigrants experience difficulties with FCR, and just over half (56%) perceive these difficulties as having a somewhat or very serious impact on Canada’s economy and society.