Educational Qualification Without Suitable Employment: Exploring Immigrant Engineers' Personal Narratives

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of immigrant professional engineers in Canada, 81% of whom are unable to secure employment in their field despite arriving under the auspices of the Canadian government’s skilled workers program. The study sought to identify factors that impede such qualified engineers’ opportunities within the Canadian job market. Because global economic competition demands that qualified professionals contribute to technological innovation, Canada must develop transitional programs that acknowledge credentials and prior work experience in order to address the underutilization of these qualified professionals and allow immigrant engineers to gain employment within their field. To this end, the study examined personal narratives of immigrant engineers who have experienced unemployment despite high levels of educational attainment, and circumstances that contribute to immigrant engineers’ unemployed status. The paper presents a discussion and recommendations for future research in the area of qualification without suitable employment.  

Receipt for Summer Term Upper Canada College

Receipt for the summer term at Upper Canada College. The term runs from April 21st to June 30th. Fees paid by H.K. Woodruff, 1878.

Letter to Messrs. Summer and Nelles of Grimsbyy from Thomas Street and Mr. Hamilton

Letter to Messrs. Summer and Nelles of Grimsby from Thomas Street and Mr. Hamilton in which they state that W.S. Britton has purchased the Grimsby Mills that belonged to W. James Paterson, Jan. 17, 1848.

Letter to Messrs. Summer and Nelles of Grimsby from T.A. Stayner

Letter to Messrs. Summer and Nelles of Grimsby from T.A. Stayner, Postmaster General stating that the accompanying letter [letter is not enclosed] has been returned to the writer on payment of postage. (1 page, printed). This letter is barely legible. Much of the text is missing, July 1848.

Letter to Mr. Summer and Mr. Nelles from the Office of the N.D. Mutual Insurance Company of St. Catharines

Letter to Mr. Summer and Mr. Nelles from the Office of the N.D. Mutual Insurance Company of St. Catharines regarding an assessment of 4 % on the premium notes of this company. This is signed by Mr. Arnold, secretary of N.D. Mutual F. Insurance Company, Aug. 9, 1848.