Who gets left out? Studying inequitable uptake in settlement and employment services
Project Lead(s)
Team Members
Daniel Rubenson, Sami Abdurahman, Maire O'Hagan (external link) , Mark Williamson (external link)
Sub-theme
Interrogating immigrant un(der)employment: Causes, consequences and solutions
The federal government estimates that nearly two-thirds (61%) of newcomers do not access settlement services within the first two years of living in Canada (IRCC, 2017). Not accessing settlement programs prolongs the path to meaningful employment and contributes to deep inequalities in economic outcomes.
Objective
This project aims to understand the barriers preventing disadvantaged newcomers from accessing settlement services in Canada and to propose strategies for governments and service providers to enhance participation and promote equitable outcomes.
Research question(s)
- Why aren't settlement services being accessed by disadvantaged newcomers who could benefit from them?
- What can governments and service providers do to increase participation and produce more equitable outcomes?
Methodology
This project focuses on settlement services that target employment and job readiness. It will examine disparities in access to employment services among newcomers as well as Canadians born jobseekers. The project also builds on methodological leadership through the Metaketa initiative of the Evidence in Governance and Politics initiative. The Metaketa approach focuses on coordinated randomized control trials with harmonization of treatments, measurements, and outcomes.
Status
The project is ongoing. The first phase, focusing on the coordinated randomized control trials' design, is currently in progress.
Expected completion date: September 2026
Key words
Settlement services; Canada; employment services; immigrant employment; newcomer employment
