“Enabling refugee youth to immigrate and fill vacancies in Canada is heartwarming and good for business” [say employer champions]

With protracted conflict and record-high numbers of refugees around the globe, the imperative for durable solutions for refugees resonates now more than ever. In countries of asylum, many refugees have the personal ambition, skills, and capacity to work, but are often prevented from accessing legal employment opportunities. Meanwhile, with acute and persistent labour shortages impacting Canada’s economy across many industries, innovative solutions and concerted efforts, from policymakers, businesses, and communities alike, are deeply needed. Consider HIRES- an impactful program that addresses both these challenges.

Watch our new video series Enriching Businesses & Changing Lives: One Job at a Time, funded by the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, released this week and hear from companies embracing this new HR solution.
Since the onset of the pandemic, employers across British Columbia have welcomed and employed 60 refugee youth from Kenya to Canada, in partnership with WUSC. Another 14 more refugee youth are set to arrive this spring and fill entry-level jobs in the hospitality industry on Vancouver Island. Joseph Thon, an alumnus of this journey, has creatively produced a short video series that brings to life the voices of employer champions and the positive impact the program has begun to boast.

Employers with entry-level jobs across various industries, including Hospitality, Tourism, Service, Retail and Healthcare wishing to connect and learn more, can email [email protected]

The HIRES pilot was initially launched by WUSC with an innovation grant to improve service delivery in the settlement sector from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and operated under the Private Refugee Sponsorship immigration channel that enables community groups (in this case workplace teams) to sponsor refugees. Today, this program has evolved to operate under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), a national pilot that was introduced in 2018 to eliminate barriers for those in refugee contexts who have sought-after skills to qualify for immigration to Canada through economic immigration channels. Additional changes were introduced to EMPP in June 2023 that enable both employers with shortages in lower-skilled positions to participate, and also refugees who have had few opportunities to further their education or pursue formal employment in their current context to benefit. WUSC is harnessing this positive policy change, and the intent by the Government of Canada to make EMPP a permanent immigration channel, by asking companies to extend more employment opportunities to a new pool of young talent and showcase their global leadership. Together, we are investing in displaced young people looking to safely fulfill their full potential in Canada.

WUSC Connects with Young Refugee Talent (20-29 Years of Age)

Not all employers have the connections, tools, or experience to simply connect with and hire international refugee talent.

WUSC, in collaboration with the EMPP network of NGOs, through a contribution fee service model, is focused on offering Canadian companies the following:

• International Refugee Youth Talent Sourcing
• Candidate Vetting & Preparation
• Interview Coordination
• Immigration Coordination
• Arrival and Settlement Guidance

*Please note, that WUSC is focused on connecting youth talent to labour needs with customer service skills in TEER 4 & 5 categories of National Occupation Classifications (NOC) (i.e. hospitality, retail, healthcare sectors that have entry-level guest service, sales, housekeeping, kitchen or other support roles). Jobs can not be seasonal and are required to be full-time (30+ hours) employment offers for 12 months.

Please refer to this IRCC webpage, to discover other NGOs working with employers in Canada under the EMPP, across numerous skilled industries, and with individuals and families of all ages.

HIRES Talent

Currently, a chance for humanitarian protection through resettlement to a new country is an opportunity that less than 1% of refugees globally receive each year. WUSC recruits and matches refugee youth for economic immigration based on employer partners’ needs and priorities – enabling newcomers to contribute their skills to Canada’s labour needs, and build a new life with agency and financial self-sufficiency. All HIRES candidates are:

• Early in their career  (20-29 years old);
• Showcase in-demand soft skills;
• Competent in English; and are
• In need of an opportunity to legally work and find protection.

Connect with us, to learn more and hire with impact!
[email protected]

Employer Testimonials

“They have made a great contribution to our workforce, our communities, and the Canadian labour market […] They help us all reflect on what it truly means to be Canadian.” – Prestige Hotels & Resorts

“What started as a labour solution has developed into a success story of collaboration and growth for our team.” – Long Beach Lodge Resort

“Participating in the HIRES program has created a wealth of benefits for our team, our leaders and our organization as a whole. Not only have we been able to welcome amazing new Canadians to the hospitality industry, but we have gained new Fam-Jam members and been able to show them how we Lead with Love. We can only hope that their time with us, whether a year or much more, is the launching pad for their future contributions to the communities we operate in. We are committed, as an employer, to radically enrich the lives of our people and the HIRES program is a phenomenal opportunity to do just that.” – Accent Inns

About WUSC

WUSC is a world leader in expanding complementary pathways for refugees through post-secondary education, and more recently economic opportunities. Its flagship Student Refugee Program (SRP) began in 1978, and brings 40+ years of experience, supporting a network of 95+ post-secondary education institutional partners across Canada to deliver this one-of-a-kind program. The HIRES initiative looks to further expand access to economic opportunities for refugee youth and facilitate their stronger economic integration into the Canadian labour market.