Langley’s Workforce Future: Local Business and Newcomer Talent (Women in Business)

23% of Langley’s residents are immigrants and newcomers represent a critical component of our workforce and will play a critical role in addressing labour and skills shortages as immigration drives 90% of Canada’s labour force growth.   That said, in a recent Langley survey, only 48% of immigrant respondents were fully employed, with just 19% working in their respective fields.

While many of these new immigrants possess advanced educations, work experience, and language skills, leaving behind their personal and professional networks can create significant challenges as they navigate their new lives in Langley.  Of course, this under-utilization of talent has a negative impact on both the individual but also our broader economic potential.

To address these challenges, the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and the Langley Local Immigration Partnership are hosting a series of six events focused on exploring and tapping into Langley’s growing pool of immigrant talent.

Through a combination of presentations, speakers, panels, and roundtable discussions, these events will highlight local demographics, provide insights into the current labour market, and delve into the skills and experiences of Langley’s newest residents. The series will also tackle the obstacles internationally trained professionals face as they attempt to rebuild their professional networks, establish contacts, and re-enter the workforce.

Our next session in this series will be July 16 and will focus on connecting women newcomers with local women in business, exploring how to build networks and connections, and discussing how to most successfully integrate newcomer women into our economy and community.