2025-05 Strengthening the Recognition of Foreign Credentials with Employment Equity Measures

Despite the Employment Equity Act’s intent to promote workplace equality, professional immigrant women in Canada continue to face significant barriers in accessing employment that aligns with their skills and qualifications (Statistics Canada, 2022). Non-recognition of foreign credentials contributes to underemployment and professional deskilling, even among those with advanced degrees and extensive experience (Hudon, 2022). Recent immigrant women experience higher unemployment rates (15.2% vs. 8.0% for Canadian-born women), earn over 20% less than their Canadian-born counterparts, and are less likely to secure full-time employment despite having comparable educational backgrounds (Hudon, 2022; Statistics Canada, 2022). They are disproportionately represented in lower-wage sectors, particularly in industries heavily impacted by COVID-19, and occupy only 14% of executive positions despite their workforce participation (Statistics Canada, 2021; TRIEC, 2022). These disparities highlight the need for targeted, intersectional policies to ensure immigrant women have equitable access to meaningful employment, fair wages, and leadership opportunities.