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How hard is it to find work in Ontario?

It's not easy to find work in Ontario. The job market is tough even for Canadian-born job seekers. There is a lot of local competition, especially in the bigger cities. Finding work can take longer than expected.

There have been political factors affecting the Canadian economy, including trade agreements with the United States of America. As a result, companies are introducing hiring freezes or downsizing by laying off employees. Other factors, like more companies using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to scan and screen resumes for keywords, can lower the chances of a human ever seeing your resume. For these reasons, it’s important to have a plan in place and a realistic outlook on how much time it can take to secure a job.

Planning your Job Search

You can start preparing for the job-search process by looking at local labour market information, trends and reports, and by finding out what Canadian employers want in your occupation or industry and the city where you plan to settle.

When applying for jobs, make sure you create a Canadian-style resume and tailor it specifically to the position you are applying for. Generic resumes will most likely get ignored. In Ontario, a recent law was passed that makes it illegal for employers to demand or ask that you have Canadian experience. But employers can still reject your resume if your experience does not reflect the duties listed on their job ad.

To help you with your resume, practice interviewing and networking skills, there are government-funded programs that will assist you in the job-search process, but these programs will not get a job for you. The government does not arrange a job for you.

You can get free help by looking for services like:

Employment services
Community programs for employment readiness
Settlement services

Anyone who tells you they can guarantee you a job if you pay them for their services is probably trying to sell you something that will leave you out of money and no job. In Canada, you are never required to pay to get a job. Beware of job applications that ask for money, require access to your finances before you even start a job, or simply to accept your application or interview you. Also, be aware of job scams and the different ways that scammers target newcomers.

Canadian Standards when Looking for Work

There are many parts of the job search that might be different than what you're used to. In fact, the very idea of having to search for a job may be very foreign to you.

Some professions and trades are regulated by provincial professional regulatory bodies; this means you need a licence.

If you were trained outside of Canada, it can take some time to get a licence. Regulatory bodies might not accept the qualifications you earned outside of Canada, or you might need to get further training or education, or take exams.

While updating your credentials to Canadian standards, you may consider working in a non-regulated role in your field first. This can be a good way to use your skills and gain Canadian work experience.

Requirements for Publicly Advertised Jobs in Ontario

According to recent changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act, employers must:

Provide salary transparency by including a specific salary number or a salary range in the job posting.
Disclose use of AI when using artificial intelligence to screen, assess or select applicants for the position. They must include a statement right in the job posting saying so.
Not ask for Canadian experience and are prohibited from including requirements relating to "Canadian experience" in publicly advertised job postings or application forms.
Be transparent about vacancy status by including a statement in the job posting on whether the position is for an existing open position.
Not ghost applicants once they are interviewed. Employers must provide an update on the hiring decision within 45 days of the last interview. (Ghosting, or disappearing without notice, is not allowed)

If you thought immigrating to a new country and starting your life over would be easy, think again. The immigration experience can be very fulfilling for you and your family. There are many examples of successful immigrants in Canada. In fact, many of the most successful companies in this country were started by immigrants. But it is not an easy process, especially in the first few years.

Know what you are getting yourself into. Have a plan of action for your arrival. Prepare, be prepared and know what to expect.

Only then can your job search process begin with a positive first step when you land.

For More Information

Labour Market Information - Information about how information about Canada's labour market can help you with your job search.
Evaluate My Credentials - Information about your credentials and links to information about how and why to get them evaluated.
Alternative Jobs to Regulated Professions - Get up to 5 alternative jobs (non-regulated employment) for different regulated professions. Read and compare key information about each job. Watch videos of newcomers talking about their experiences of entering and working in an alternative job.