Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy provides employers with 75% of a participant’s salary to a maximum of $20,000 for a three to nine-month job placement.

“Newcomers and IEPs make up only 26% of our industry which is facing a shortage of 65,000 workers by the end of the decade, according to a recently released National Labour Market Information (LMI) study,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. “Programs like Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy are vital resources for an industry that has long relied on antiquated human resources and arm’s-length recruitment which severely limit the talent pool.”

One of the biggest obstacles newcomers and IEPs face when they come to Canada is having their skills recognized by employers. With that understanding, Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy provides participants with access to the BioSkills Recognition Program upon completion of their placement. They’re also granted free enrolment in BioTalent Canada’s Essential Skills and Technical Skills Fundamentals training. All of this helps newcomers and IEPs become BioReady™ and builds confidence in employers to hire them full-time.

“The BioReady™ designation helps employers recognize the competencies that newcomers are able to demonstrate,” says Iona Santos-Fresnoza, Program Lead at IEC-BC, a non-profit organization that connects employers to immigrant talent. “And it has worked for our FAST participants. We have clients who’ve said that getting the BioReady™ certificate was actually a crucial piece in their getting hired.”

“Attracting talent from around the world is essential to Canada’s economic growth and addressing labour shortages. That’s why we’re investing in BioTalent Canada, to help connect hard-working newcomers with skills development and job opportunities in the science sectors across the country.”

– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

The Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy program runs through October 2023 and aims to place more than 165 newcomers and IEPs with small- and medium-sized enterprises across Canada. For more information on this program, or to apply, visit biotalent.ca/skillednewcomers

Rob Henderson is available for comment.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program.

About BioTalent Canada

BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science. Trusted as the go-to source for labour market intelligence, BioTalent Canada guides bio-economy stakeholders with evidence-based data and industry-driven standards. BioTalent Canada is focused on igniting the industry’s brainpower bridging the gap between job-ready talent and employers and ensuring the long-term agility, resiliency, and sustainability of one of Canada’s most vital sectors.

Original source here.