Profile
Keywords: labour market integration, workplace discrimination, skilled immigration, credential devaluation
Rupa Banerjee is the Canada Research Chair in Economic Inclusion, Employment and Entrepreneurship of Canada's Immigrants and Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her primary research interest lies in the employment integration of new immigrants to Canada. She is particularly interested in the institutional barriers facing new immigrants in the Canadian labour market. In addition, she is interested in workplace diversity and ethno-racial discrimination, particularly as it applies to second-generation immigrants.
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Unveiling the Experiences of Racialized Immigrant Women in Cybersecurity - An Intersectional Qualitative Inquiry Skilled immigrant women’s integration in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professions is influenced by the prevalent racial and gendered conditions present in these fields. This study employs qualitative interviews to investigate barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion faced by immigrant women professionals in the cybersecurity sector in Canada. Using an intersectional approach, this paper unveils how racial and gender discourses affect immigrant women’s experiences of exclusion in the workplace. Findings suggest that immigrant women face multiple barriers at the intersection of gender, race, and immigration status to enter the sector and advance in their careers. Drawing on the interview data, this paper demonstrates how workplaces reproduce multiple forms of inequality for racialized immigrant women. These inequalities arise through the division of positions, the perpetuation of stereotypes that hinder upward mobility, work schedules designed for the ideal men employees, and the penalties associated with cultural differences that specifically disadvantage immigrants.TRS2 1.8 Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-02-10 TRS2 1.8 A Novel Framework for Investigating Immigrant Experiences in Cybersecurity – Integrating Human Capital Theory with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion The cybersecurity sector has faced chronic talent shortages in recent years. One potential solution for addressing this issue is to leverage the expertise of immigrants. The literature on immigrants’ integration has predominantly used a human capital lens, which overlooks the structural issues of integration. Whereas equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in organizational literature is more focused on gender and race. There is a need to bridge these approaches in order to create a holistic conceptual framework to guide research into the integration challenges that skilled immigrants face in host countries. This research first identifies the key aspects of immigrant employment outcomes by reviewing literature on immigrant integration and EDI. Using the cybersecurity sector in Canada as a case study, this paper presents a conceptual framework for investigating employment integration of skilled immigrants, which can also be applied to other skilled sectors.TRS2 1.8 Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-02-10 TRS2 1.8 Temporary talent: Wage penalties among highly educated temporary workers in Canada Temporary employment (TE) arrangements have become increasingly common in Canada among both high- and low-skilled workers. In this study, we examine the prevalence and earnings effects of TE across education levels with a specific focus on highly educated workers. We also examine the earnings effects of TE across the earnings distribution. We find that higher levels of schooling are negatively associated with the probability of TE. However, the earnings discounts for temporary work are significant and increase in magnitude for individuals with higher levels of educational attainment. For highly educated workers at the top end of the earnings distribution, the discount associated with being in a temporary job is large enough to substantially reduce, although not entirely negate, the sizeable earnings premiums associated with higher levels of education.TRS2 1.1 Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2023-01-29 TRS2 1.1 Banerjee, R., Lam, L., & Lamb, D. (2023). Temporary talent: Wage penalties among highly educated temporary workers in Canada. Journal of Industrial Relations, 65(2), 185-210. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2023-04-01 Gingrich, L.G., Banerjee, R., & Lightman, N. (2023). Differential economic inclusion: The conversion of symbolic capital to material capital in Canada's fractured labour market. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 55(2), 1-23. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2023-07-17 Policies, potentials, and pitfalls: The impact of economic admission categories on recent immigrant earnings disparities Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2024-11-19 Banerjee, R. (2023). Introduction to the special issue - Canada's economic immigration policy: Opportunities and challenges for the road ahead. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 24(3), 585-597. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2024-12-01 Fireside chat on IRCC Express Entry Programs IRCC is conducting a review of Express Entry’s federal economic immigration programs and the Comprehensive Ranking System, with a particular interest on how the Department can simplify and streamline the system, while prioritizing the factors that are most strongly correlated to positive economic outcomes. This review exercise stems from a commitment made in the 2023 Strategic Immigration Review to explore opportunities to simplify and streamline complex immigration pathways.
As part of this exercise, we are consulting key stakeholders with expertise in this area. Given your expertise, we would like to know if you would be interested in joining a ’closed door’ – Chatham House Rules – discussion with select Academics to better understand the current research and evidence on federal high skilled immigrant outcomes in Canada.
The objective of this session is to hear your thoughts on potential ways to enhance the federal high-skilled programs and the ranking system, to better select skilled workers that will contribute to Canada’s long-term prosperity and economic growth, including potential changes to selection factors. We would also like to hear your views on any particular barriers within the system that hinder the selection of top talent and of any innovative approaches or best practices you may be aware of from other countries. Toronto Metropolitan University, University of British Columbia Activity 2025-02-21 Zhuang, Z. C., Banerjee, R., Akbar, R., El Toukhy, M., Krywulak, J. (2025). Comparing housing experiences of international and domestic Students in Ontario and Alberta: Preliminary survey findings. Welcoming Campus, Inclusive Community: Building Housing In TRS3 4.4 Toronto Metropolitan University Activity 2025-06-16 TRS3 4.4 Build a Bridge Workshop 2: Immigration integration challenges This workshop, part of the Build a Bridge Program and Competition at Bridging Divides, brings together experts to address the most pressing challenges in immigrant integration. The agenda features focused sessions on Immigrant Health and Well-Being (Elizabeth Saewyc), Employment and Lifelong Learning (Rupa Banerjee), Place and Infrastructure (Kathryn Dennler), and Citizenship and Participation (Anna Triandafylidou). Participants gain insights into the complexities of integration and explore cross-thematic solutions for migrant populations in Canada. The event is designed for Build a Bridge Program participants who seek to innovate and collaborate on these urgent topics.
Other University of British Columbia, Toronto Metropolitan University Activity 2024-09-17 Other Migration Disrupted: How technological transformation is reshaping human mobility Migration Disrupted was an interdisciplinary, hybrid conference held at Toronto Metropolitan University from May 7-9, 2024, organized by CERC Migration and Bridging Divides. The conference focused on how advanced digital technologies (ADTs) are transforming human mobility, with an emphasis on their impact on migrant integration, citizenship, employment, health care, and urban experience in Canada and beyond. Through a series of panels, fireside chats, and breakout sessions, researchers, policymakers, and civil society leaders examined both opportunities and challenges created by technological transformation, including digital divides, the ethics of artificial intelligence, infrastructure for inclusive cities, and the future of migrant work. Video recordings of sessions are available.
Other Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Concordia University Activity 2024-05-07 Triandafyllidou, A. ,
Bagheri, E. ,
Gruzd, A. ,
Mathurin, G. ,
Abu-Laban, Y. ,
Agrawal, S. ,
Farooq, B. , Joel Dissanayake,
Banerjee, R. ,
Huot, S. ,
Mazalek, A. ,
Zhuang, Z. ,
Rockwell, G. ,
Wong, J. ,
Paquet, M. Other Unveiling the Experiences of Racialized Immigrant Women in Cybersecurity - An Intersectional Qualitative Inquiry Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-01-01 Voices of belonging: Integrating immigrant perspectives in workplace inclusion theory Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-07-04 Second-generation education and earnings across birth cohorts: ethno-racial variations in Canada Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-04-22 Banerjee, R. , Jeffrey G Reitz, Feng Hou, Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey
Assessing the Impact of the Post Graduate Work Permit Program on the Earnings of International Students: Evidence From Canadian Employer Employee Dynamics Dataset ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of Canada's Post‐Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) on the experience premium of former international students using the Canadian Employer‐Employee Dynamics Dataset (CEEDD). The PGWPP allows former international students to work in Canada without restrictions, theoretically equalizing their job prospects with Canadian‐born workers and immigrants arriving directly from abroad. Using employer‐employee fixed effects models, the study found that the PGWPP reduced the experience premium for former international students by 4.6%. Additionally, the policy had unintended negative effects on other immigrant groups. We explore potential explanations for these outcomes and offer policy recommendations. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-03-23 Between diversity and meritocracy: employer and skilled immigrant perspectives from the Canadian context Purpose This study aims to empirically investigate and extend the diversity-meritocracy paradox outlined by Konrad et al. (2021) using skilled immigrants in Canada as a case study. Despite their significance in knowledge-based economies, immigrant voices are often marginalized in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) literature and management research. By focusing on skilled immigrants, who embody both diversity and meritocratic principles, this research addresses this gap. Through semi-structured interviews, we examine whether diversity and meritocracy are perceived as contradictory or complementary for skilled immigrants. Our findings not only contribute to theoretical understanding but also offer practical insights into the complexities of diversity and meritocracy in contemporary organizations. Design/methodology/approach This study utilizes qualitative, semi-structured, interviews and focus groups to gather data from both employers and skilled immigrants. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke (2006), is employed to analyze the data. Participants include skilled immigrants and human resource (HR) professionals/managers. Data are collected through interviews and focus groups conducted between December 2018 and February 2020 in person and via video-conferencing. Findings This study unveils a discrepancy in perceptions between employers and skilled immigrants on DEI in Canada’s labor market. While employers prioritize meritocracy, emphasizing Canadian qualifications and experience, immigrants feel undervalued, encountering barriers due to cultural differences. Employers focus on past work experience over credentials, using behavioral interviews and proficiency tests for assessment. However, immigrants often perceive the selection process as opaque, and encounter explicit preferences for Canadian education and experience, which they view as discriminatory. Challenges in onboarding, training and workplace culture further exacerbate their experiences. These findings highlight the nuanced dynamics between meritocracy and diversity, underscoring the need for systemic change. Originality/value Despite employers’ claims of valuing diversity, our findings reveal a preference for “Canadian-ness” over immigrants' international expertise, perpetuating systemic barriers. Employers prioritize meritocracy but often conflate it with cultural conformity, hindering immigrant integration. Our analysis underscores the disconnection between organizational rhetoric and practices, urging a reconceptualization of diversity and inclusion policies. To foster truly inclusive workplaces, both surface-level and deep-level diversity must be considered. Policy interventions and enhanced intercultural competence are essential for leveraging the talents of skilled immigrants and promoting equitable employment practices. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2025-01-22 It’s not great, but it could be worse! Immigrant job quality in Canada through the lens of relative deprivation theory Abstract We explore whether immigrants are over(under)represented in poor‐quality employment. We find that, on subjective dimensions, immigrants actually have equal and sometimes superior quality jobs relative to native‐born workers. Immigrant workers perceive higher levels of managerial support and greater ability to complete work during scheduled time. However, on more objective dimensions, immigrants' jobs are poorer than those of their Canadian‐born counterparts, specifically in terms of less access to collective agreement coverage, training, various extended benefits, as well as lower wages and higher incidence of self‐employment. We attempt to reconcile the differences in perceptions of job quality vs. objective outcomes by drawing on relative deprivation theory. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2024-07-27 Paths to Permanence: Permit Categories and Earnings Trajectories of Workers in Canada’s International Mobility Program La présente étude utilise la Base de données longitudinales sur l'immigration pour analyser les trajectoires de revenus des immigrants en deux étapes au Canada, dès leur permis de travail temporaire initial. L'objectif principal de la recherche est d'arriver à d'importantes conclusions sur la relation entre la catégorie de permis de travail temporaire et l'intégration au marché du travail des nouveaux arrivants et des nouvelles arrivantes. Axée sur les quatre sous-catégories principales de permis du Programme de mobilité internationale—titulaires d'un permis de travail postdiplôme, Permis de travail ouverts aux membres de la famille des travailleurs étrangers ou époux/épouses et conjoint·e·s de fait des titulaires d'un permis d’études, personnes mutées à l'intérieur d'une société ou programme vacances-travail—, la recherche explore la façon dont les résultats sur le marché du travail de ces divers titulaires de permis de travail temporaires se comparent à ceux des immigrant·e·s à une étape arrivant directement de l’étranger. Les conclusions mettent en relief les différences significatives dans les résultats sur le marché du travail au sein de la population immigrante, compte tenu de la catégorie de permis de travail précis avant la migration. Notamment, les personnes avec un permis de travail postdiplôme et les personnes mutées à l'intérieur d'une société ont des revenus initiaux plus élevés que les personnes sans permis de travail ou d’études préalables. À l'inverse, les participant·e·s au programme vacances-travail ont des revenus initiaux plus faibles et le revenu de titulaires de permis pour conjoint·e·s varie selon le genre. De plus, l’étude note diverses tendances en matière de croissance des revenus annuels dans le temps, associées à différents types de permis. On discute des conséquences de ces résultats en ce qui concerne les politiques. Note des rédacteurs : Le premier volume de Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de politiques a été publié en 1975. Ce volume-ci est le cinquantième. Pour commémorer cet événement, nous avons organisé une série de conférences qui sont publiées dans ce numéro spécial. La professeure Banerjee a donné cette conférence dans un webinaire organisé par la chaire d'excellence en recherche du Canada en migration et intégration en juin 2023. Toronto Metropolitan University Publication 2024-04-30 Vic Taylor Best Labour & Industry Article Award Toronto Metropolitan University Award 2023-06-01 TRSM Research Ambassador Award - Human Resources Management Toronto Metropolitan University Award 2025-05-29
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