Antecedents of Underemployment: Job Search of Skilled Immigrants in Canada

Abstract

We investigate factors that skilled immigrants can improve in order to have better job search outcomes, in particular to avoid underemployment. We test an unfolding model which considers barriers faced by skilled immigrants during their job search (language and cultural barriers, and the lack of social support in the receiving country), job search constructs and job search outcomes (including underemployment). We collected data through an online questionnaire and obtained 357 usable responses from skilled immigrants in Canada. The hypotheses were tested with partial least squares (PLS).

High-skilled female immigrants: career strategies and experiences

“…For example, studies show that building a social network and putting conscious effort to accumulate cultural and social capital for career self-management, (e.g. learning the local language), significantly helped the job search process of immigrants (Fang et al, 2013;George et al, 2012;Guerrero and Rothstein, 2012;Pearson et al, 2012;Tharmaseelan et al, 2010;Winterheller and Hirt, 2017). Researchers also found that, when other tactics failed, getting a formal education in the host country sometimes served as 'an entry ticket' to the job market (George et al, 2012;Winterheller and Hirt, 2017).…”

The effect of perceived overqualification on job satisfaction and career satisfaction among immigrants: Does host national identity matter?

“…Previous research has identified various barriers for immigrants to obtain positions commensurate with their qualifications. These include lack of language fluency, cultural knowledge and social contacts (Guerrero & Rothstein, 2012; Johnston, Khattab, & Manley, 2015) as well as lack of recognition of foreign degrees and experiences (Hakak, Holzinger, & Zikic, 2010; Zikic, Bonache, & Cerdin, 2010). However, studies have shown that these barriers do not fully explain overqualification among immigrants and have concluded that also discrimination might play a role (Duvander, 2001; Støren & Wiers-Jenssen, 2010).…”

A Multiple Source Approach to Organisational Justice: The Role of the Organisation, Supervisors, Coworkers, and Customers

“…In addition to controlling for gender, age, type of contract (part-time vs. full-time) and average working hours per week, English proficiency will be assessed. To that end we will use the three-item scale validated by Guerrero and Rothstein (2012) that measures ability to speak, read, and write in English, using a 10-point scale ranging from 1, extremely poor, to 10, excellent. Additionally, participants will have to position their English reading ability based on the six anchors, ranging from A1 to C2, described by the reading dimension of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Verhelst et al, 2009).…”