canadian newcomers in the new world of work
TRANSCRIPT
Canadian Newcomers in a New World of Work
CANNEXUS 2007National Career Development Conference
April 16 - 18, 2007 Toronto, Ontario.
Khaled A. IslaihSettlement Worker
Brampton Multicultural Centre Brampton – Ontario
Introduction
• Old Economy/ New Economy
• New World of Work
• Newcomer Challenges
• Transformational Approach
• Conclusion
Old Economy (Industrial Economy )
PRODUCTION MANAGMENT MARKET
Physical assets / laborIndustrial firmsStandard skillsDegreesSlow changesStable job
Resource management Hierarchies Command and control Conflict of interest Long life-cycles
Manufactured productsLocal /national Price / quality
New Economy (Knowledge Economy)
PRODUCTION MANAGMENT MARKET
Knowledge and ideasKnowledge firmsKnowledge workersFast changesUnpredictable jobsLife long-learning
Process management Network structures Shared authorities
Teamwork Short life-cycles
Fast changes
Knowledge productsGlobal
Innovation
New World of Work• Work is more fluid focused on sharing knowledge
and information (intangible)
• Work can be done from anywhere and anytime
• Short term contracts and consulting assignments
• No job security and no benefits
• Employment success requires life-long learning
• Work smarter
• Job shifts
• Work is offered in an increasingly globalized job market
Newcomers Challenges in the New World
• Interconnected settlement challenges (jobs, family, housing, school, language, credential recognition….etc)
• Disoriented (new country, different economy and new culture)
• Fragmented support and guidance
• Frustration (family issues, survival jobs, physical health, mental health)
• Cognitive gap (low self-esteem and negative attitudes and worldview)
• Isolation (no community participation or civic engagement)
Transformational Approach• Traditional settlement programs and initiatives are not
responsive to the needs and challenges of newcomers in the 21st century.
• Design holistic integration approach to address settlement interconnected challenges including job search and employment facilitation
• Networked approach to use newcomers' collective knowledge to connect with them the Canadian networked economy.
• Build learning communities to connect newcomers to long-term personal and professional support networks.
Why Transformational Approach?
• Productive conversations and group discussions will help newcomer participants to reframe their challenges through collective reflections.
• Collective interactions empower newcomers to take actions to enhance their community participation and civic engagement including labor market integration.
• New mindset
Successful Transformation Needs
• New vision for settlement sector (integrate global knowledge in the Canadian economy)
• New language (human capital, social capital, global experience, global economy/society, cultural integration, civic participation…etc)
• New actors: competent settlement workers
• New structures: flexible network structures
Benefits of Transformation • Newcomers: engaged citizens, productive workers
and future leaders in their communities
• Businesses: expand global business opportunities, better relationships with customers and investors, retain newcomers talents.
• Canadian communities: stronger communities with stronger families
• Canadian economy: better competitive position in the global economy.
Conclusion
We are all newcomers in the new global knowledge economy/society