The Use of Advanced Digital Technologies for Job Search by Newcomers to Canada

This project investigates the potential of Advanced Digital Technologies (ADTs) to mitigate or shorten periods of unemployment and underemployment among skilled immigrants in Canada. By conducting in-depth interviews with newcomer immigrants and stakeholders, this project explores how digital tools are utilized in job searches and professional networking and assesses their effectiveness in improving access to employment opportunities. Also, it critically examines the uneven access to digital tools, commonly referred to as the digital divide, which may limit the potential benefits of ADTs for certain immigrant groups, including those with lower digital literacy, limited language skills, or restricted internet access.

1. How do newcomer immigrants engage with digital platforms and social media during their job search processes?
2. What are the perceived impacts of ADTs, particularly social media, on newcomers’ employment outcomes and on employers’ recruitment practices when hiring immigrants?
3. How does access to digital tools differ across various groups of immigrants, and what barriers limit their effective use?
4. In what ways does social media shape labour market integration both before migration and after settlement?

The study employs a qualitative research design, conducting around 100 in-depth interviews with two groups: (1) newcomers who arrived in Canada as skilled workers or professionals, and (2) migrants transitioning to permanent residency through a two-step migration pathway. Additionally, interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders, including employers, settlement agencies, and policymakers.

This project is ongoing with fieldwork nearly complete and analysis is now beginning.

Expected completion date: December 2027

Skilled immigrants; Digital job search tools; Digital divide; Digital social capital; Intersectionality; Credential recognition; Qualitative research