Local immigration professionals launch proactive approach to attracting foreign labour

Officials say Howley has run her own law firm since 2019 and recently opened a second office in Trochu where she discovered that the difficulty hiring was the same there.

“I run two small offices and have been very lucky to find qualified people but seeing the frustration of larger business owners sparked action on an idea Martine and I have danced around for a few months now,” Howley says.

Varekamp-Bos, owner at Immigration Care since 2008, works mostly with employers who hire temporary and permanent foreign workers and provides immigration services to the employees themselves. She has noticed more of her clients being unable to fulfil their available positions locally.

“There’s definitely a need for more employees but the employer clients I work with are so busy trying to run their business that they don’t have time to recruit and vet foreign candidates,” says Varekamp-Bos. “And even if they find someone, they don’t have the immigration experience to bring people here efficiently. There’s a disconnect between the people who want to come to Canada to work and those employers who need them. We aim to provide that connection.”

Officials say the numbers support the two women’s observations and conversations. Overall unemployment is 5.4 per cent as of August, the latest date figures available from Alberta’s Labour Force Statistics. According to the Alberta Economic Dashboard statistics on employment, employment increased in many industries compared to last year. Agriculture is said to have seen the highest relative increase at 29.5 per cent from August 2021 with sizable increases in the information, culture and recreation category as well as the professional, scientific and technical category.

Officials note some towns are attempting to support local businesses by participating in the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, run jointly by the provincial and federal governments, where immigrants are nominated for residency based on their skill set. But this program is felt to not be as proactive as what Howley and Varekamp-Bos plan.

“We have a mechanic who is turning away customers because he doesn’t have the people in place to pick up the tools and work, we have construction clients who need surveyors, project managers, estimators and more,” says Varekamp-Bos. “We’re finding out who they need to hire and going out to find those people. The opportunity to speak to qualified candidates who are interested and well suited to immigrate takes a huge amount of pressure off of these employers.”

Officials say the women have booked space in two upcoming Irish jobs expos, one in Dublin and one in Cork this fall. They’re representing construction, mechanic and agricultural businesses while there and are hoping to add to their employer list.

In addition to being immigration experts professionally, both women have experienced the immigration systems from within. Varekamp-Bos is from The Netherlands and Howley is from Ireland. Both chose central Alberta as their home and they plan on providing the benefit of their personal experience when discussing the lifestyle and opportunities waiting for willing foreign workers.

“My family and I went home this past summer,” says Howley, an Irish immigrant. “I knew we had made the right choice in coming to Alberta, this is our home, and the more I talked with people the more they were nodding their heads and wanting the space and the sunshine, the opportunity to own a home and have a garden and go skiing on winter weekends. If somebody asks, we’ll have to be honest about Alberta in February, but otherwise we’ll be encouraging people to bet on a new job and a new home.”

The two fly to Dublin for the first of the job expos October 12. More dates and information on services can be found at www.laboursolutionscanada.ca.

by rdnewsNOW Staff

Local immigration professionals launch proactive approach to attracting foreign labour

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