Canada admits new immigrants through a points-based system that prioritizes professional qualifications, work experience, and education (George et al., 2012). However, research has consistently highlighted a significant gap between the professional backgrounds of skilled immigrants and their ability to secure employment in their trained fields after arrival (George et al., 2012). One of the most persistent barriers to successful settlement is the limited recognition of foreign credentials, which often prevents newcomers from accessing jobs that match their expertise (Rivas-Garrido & Koning, 2019).
At the same time, the digital landscape has profoundly reshaped how individuals network and access labour market opportunities (Mowbray & Hall, 2021). In countries like England and Scotland, policy frameworks reflect a strong belief in the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to foster social inclusion and expand social capital by enabling broader social networks (McQuaid et al., 2004). Similarly, Canadian studies have shown that access to and use of social networks play a crucial role in helping immigrants mobilize existing relationships and seek out new opportunities (George et al., 2012).
Social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, vary in functionality but collectively offer significant opportunities for networking, information sharing, and connection-building (Mowbray & Hall, 2021). UK-based studies demonstrate that these platforms increase users' likelihood of reaching out to contacts they may not have approached offline, thus expanding their professional networks (McQuaid et al., 2004; Mowbray & Hall, 2021). A study in Spain found that women, immigrants, and low-income workers are more likely to use ICTs to change jobs, suggesting that digital tools may be particularly valuable for those with limited access to traditional forms of social capital (Campos et al., 2014). Additionally, online job searches have been shown to reduce barriers such as high search costs, information gaps, and limited direct contact with potential employers (Campos et al., 2014; George et al., 2012). Despite growing interest in digital job-seeking tools, there remains a lack of focused research on how newcomers and immigrants specifically use Advanced Digital Technologies (ADTs) to navigate employment pathways. In the Canadian context, this inquiry is particularly urgent due to systemic challenges related to credential recognition and professional licensing—especially in regulated fields like healthcare and engineering.
This project seeks to explore whether ADTs can serve as effective tools to mitigate or shorten periods of unemployment and underemployment among skilled immigrants. Through interviews with newcomer immigrants, the research will examine how digital technologies are being used in job searches and professional networking, and whether these tools meaningfully improve access to employment opportunities. It also considers 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.
Theoretical Frameworks: This research adopts the theoretical framework of motivation and self-regulation theories as outlined by Kanfer et al. (2001) to examine how newcomers engage with the Canadian labour market through the use of ADTs. This framework is particularly useful for investigating how access to digital information and resources influences newcomers’ optimism, persistence, and overall motivation in the job search process. It allows for an exploration of how ADTs affect individuals' goal-setting, planning, and self-monitoring behaviours, key components of effective self-regulation in employment-seeking efforts.
This research draws on theories of social capital to explore how ADTs may enhance or transform the social capital available to immigrants. It examines the extent to which digital tools, including social media, professional networking sites, online communities, and other digital resources, enable newcomers to build new networks or mobilize existing ones in innovative ways that support their employment aspirations. A particular focus will be placed on the concept of “self-created social capital,” investigating how digital engagement helps immigrants reconstruct or expand their professional and social networks in a new country, and how this affects their employment outcomes.
To further contextualize these dynamics, the research incorporates intersectionality as a critical analytical lens. Grounded in the understanding that multiple social identities, such as race, gender, class, and immigration status, intersect to produce distinct experiences of privilege and marginalization, this framework is particularly relevant in the context of the feminization of migration (Alvi & Zaidi, 2017). It offers essential insights into how structural inequalities shape the employment experiences of racialized and marginalized women, and how these women navigate overlapping systems of oppression while seeking labour market integration.
The research project will use in-depth interviews with immigrants and key stakeholders involved in newcomer employment and settlement to gain a comprehensive understanding of these processes. Special attention will be given to the voices of women from racialized and disadvantaged groups, whose experiences will be critically examined through the intersectionality framework to reveal how digital engagement interacts with broader systemic forces in shaping their job search journeys.
- How do newcomer immigrants utilize digital platforms and social media during their job search process?
- What are the perceived impacts of ADTs, in particular social media, on newcomers’ employment outcomes and on the recruitment practices of employers seeking to hire immigrants?
- How does access to digital tools vary across different groups of immigrants, and what barriers do they face?
- How does social media influence labor market integration both pre- and post- migration?
- To what extent can ADTs help reduce the impact of traditional labour market barriers, such as lack of Canadian experience, non-recognition of foreign credentials, and limited professional networks?
By situating digital technologies within the broader context of structural inequalities and differential access, this project aims to offer a nuanced understanding of how newcomers engage with ADTs, in particular social media, in their efforts to integrate into the Canadian labour market. It critically examines the opportunities and limitations these tools present, especially for immigrants who face systemic barriers related to credential recognition and limited social networks. In doing so, the project also seeks to identify what kinds of institutional, policy, and community-based support are necessary to ensure equitable access to digital resources for immigrants, regardless of background, socioeconomic status, or digital literacy level.
This research will employ qualitative methods, primarily in-depth interviews with immigrants and the employers, to explore the experiences of newcomers and stakeholders involved in labour market integration.
Stage 1 (Year 1): Stage 1 will focus on finalizing the research design and securing ethics approval through the Toronto Metropolitan University Research Ethics Board (TMU REB). During this phase, the research team will refine the methodological framework, develop interview guides and pre-interview questionnaires, and ensure all research protocols align with ethical guidelines.
Participant recruitment will begin once ethics approval is secured. Recruitment will be conducted through social media, community networks, and partner organizations. Two participant groups will be targeted: (1) newcomers who have arrived in Canada either directly with Permanent Residency (PR) status or through two-step migration pathways, i.e., initially on temporary work permits, study permits, or family reunification routes and later transitioned to PR; and (2) stakeholders engaged in newcomer labour market integration, including staff from settlement agencies, employment service providers, employers, headhunters, IRCC affiliates, and migration researchers.
Eligible newcomer participants must be aged 18 or older, have arrived in Canada in 2014 or later, currently reside in Canada, and possess a minimum of a three-year university degree or equivalent qualification. Stakeholders must also be 18 or older and currently employed in roles connected to newcomer employment and integration. Initial interviews with both groups will begin during this stage.
Stage 2 (Year 2): In stage 2, the main focus will be on completing the data collection process and initiating preliminary analysis. A total of 300 qualitative interviews will be conducted: 140 with newcomers who arrived as skilled workers or professionals, 140 with individuals who transitioned to PR through two-step pathways, and 20 with stakeholders working in newcomer labour market integration.
These interviews will explore participants' experiences with the Canadian labour market, their use of ADTs, such as social media and online job search tools and the barriers and opportunities encountered throughout their employment journeys. Prior to their interviews, newcomer participants will complete a pre-interview survey capturing key socio-demographic and background information. Preliminary coding and thematic analysis will begin in this phase, accompanied by internal team reflections on conceptual frameworks and emerging findings.
Stage 3 (Year 3): In Stage 3, the research team will focus on data analysis, interpretation of findings, and dissemination of project outcomes. The research team will critically examine the collected data to identify key patterns, with a particular focus on the role of ADTs in shaping labour market outcomes, ongoing challenges related to credential recognition, and broader systemic issues such as institutional discrimination and racialized labour segmentation.
This stage will also involve critical reflection on the conceptual tools, categories, and terminologies used throughout the project, including how different academic and cultural understandings shape the narratives around migration and integration.
The project’s findings will be translated into multiple outputs, including academic publications, policy briefs, and a practical toolkit designed for service providers, employers, and immigrant communities. Knowledge mobilization efforts will prioritize accessibility, ensuring that recommendations are actionable and relevant to those working to improve digital inclusion and employment equity for newcomers in Canada.
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Timeline
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2024
Oct-Dec
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2025
Jan-Mar
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2025
Apr- Jun
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2025
July-Sept
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2025
Oct-Dec
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2026
Jan-Mar
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2026
Apr- Jun
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2026
July-Sept
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2026
Oct-Dec
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2027
Jan-Mar
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2027
Apr- Jun
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2027
July-Sept
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Stage 1: Research design and data collection initiates
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Stage 2: Data collection and data analysis
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Stage 3: Knowledge mobilization
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- One comprehensive research report outlining the research project’s objectives, methodology, findings, recommendations, and conclusions. These reports will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of ADTs in newcomer job searches, social capital formation, and employment integration (by December 2025).
- At least two academic papers submitted to peer-reviewed journals, focusing on key themes such as digital social capital, credential recognition, intersectionality in digital labour integration, and ADTs in future-of-work contexts (November 2025 to September 2026).
- One policy brief providing clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers, employers, training institutions, and immigrant-serving organizations on how to better leverage ADTs to support equitable employment outcomes and address systemic barriers (September 2026).
- At least four conference presentations and panel discussions at national and international academic forums to share findings, engage scholarly audiences, and solicit critical feedback on methodological and theoretical approaches (October 2025 to September 2026).
- At least one workshop or webinar organized with practitioners, policymakers, and service providers to translate findings into practice and encourage dialogue on digital inclusion and employment equity for newcomers (February 2026).
- One employer-focused toolkit offering practical strategies, checklists, and examples of how ADTs can be used to improve inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and retention of newcomers in the workplace (September 2026).
The research team is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Usha George, Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). The project is supported by Dr. Ashika Niraula, a Senior Research Associate at the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration and Integration program at TMU. The team also includes student researchers Akhila Varghese and Husnain Mirza, both working as Research Assistants.
This project builds directly on Dr. Usha George’s long-standing research expertise in immigrant settlement, integration, and social inclusion in Canada. Her prior work has contributed significantly to understanding the systemic challenges newcomers face in accessing equitable employment and social services. This research project helps to deepen that focus by exploring how ADTs may offer innovative pathways for addressing persistent barriers in labour market integration, particularly for highly skilled immigrants navigating credential recognition, employer bias, and information gaps.
The sub-project is situated within the Bridging Divides research program, specifically under Sub-theme 2: Advanced Digital Technologies for Immigrant Labour Market Integration and (Re)Training, which examines how digital tools can be harnessed to facilitate newcomer inclusion in the rapidly evolving world of work. It also aligns with the broader objectives of the Employment and Lifelong Learning research theme, which addresses the intersections of digital transformation, precarious work, re-skilling, and social equity for immigrants and racialized communities.
By engaging with this theme, the project creates strong synergies with other ongoing Bridging Divides initiatives focused on the role of the platform economy, artificial intelligence, and non-standard work arrangements in shaping immigrant employment outcomes. It contributes to a larger body of work examining the future of work and the implications of digitalization on economic participation, particularly for groups historically excluded from stable and meaningful employment.
Furthermore, this research project also supports the Bridging Divides program’s commitment to producing applied, policy-relevant research. Its emphasis on stakeholder engagement, through interviews, workshops, toolkits, and knowledge mobilization activities, ensures that the findings will feed into ongoing dialogue among service providers, training institutions, and policymakers.
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