Point Of Protest Volume 2. Episode 2
Employment Discrimination & Underemployment in Immigrant Communities
Point of Protest -Episode 1
Employment Discrimination &; Underemployment in Immigrant
Communities
“Being unemployed is the true test of who you really are.” -Ernie J Zelinski
Before becoming a social worker I used to work at a city funded immigration law clinic. Day
after day we would come across people who after working hard in their country of origin as a
doctor, a lawyer or some other kind of licensed professional who because of their inability to be
credentialed in the United States could no longer practice in their field of expertise. Invariably
their status as a new immigrant and lack of credentials in United States would force them to
leave the career they had worked so hard to attain.
New immigrants can be forced to leave a profession that was often what allowed them to raise
the funds to bring themselves, their children and other loved ones from a far away country to a
new one in the hopes of forging new opportunities. The irony that the same job they used to
gain the funds necessary to bring them here would need to be left behind along with their
favourite foods and old apartment is not lost on me. A person who was once a handsomely paid
doctor or lawyer in their homeland is now forced to take a job as a cleaner or cab driver to
provide for their family. In this installment we will explore why this happens, the impact of this
employment displacement and ways this challenge could be addressed.
“Underemployment for immigrants refers to the situation where college-educated immigrants
are either unemployed or working in jobs that require no more than a high school
diploma 12 . Recent immigrants consistently face the highest unemployment rates among different
groups 3 . To address this issue, career counseling and accessible training or retraining are
recommended 45 ”
Impact of Surging Immigration on U.S. Unemployment | St. Louis Fed
Many immigrants with college degrees are employed in fields like management, computer and
mathematical occupations, health services, and business, while some are in fields that don't
require a college degree. Immigrants may face challenges in finding jobs that align with their
qualifications, such as language barriers, difficulty with U.S. job application processes, and
limited course options. The underemployment of immigrant college graduates can have
economic and social consequences for both individuals and society.
Examples of job types where immigrant college graduates might be underutilized:
Some immigrants with college degrees have been found working in retail positions.
Although a significant portion of immigrant workers are in the construction industry,
some with college degrees may be employed in lower-level positions within this sector.
Some immigrants with college degrees may be found in service jobs, such as food
service, which do not require a high level of education.
Factors contributing to this situation:
Job Market Conditions: The job market can be competitive, and some immigrants may
need to take jobs that aren't ideal while they seek more appropriate positions.
Language Barriers: Immigrants may face challenges in communicating effectively with
employers and coworkers, which can affect their ability to get hired for jobs that align
with their qualifications.
Recognition of Foreign Credentials: Some U.S. employers may not fully recognize the
credentials of immigrant college graduates, making it difficult to obtain jobs that match
their qualifications.
Lack of Local Networks: Employment is often dependent on who you know. As a new
arrival, immigrants are often starting from scratch both socially and professionally.
Immigrants facing underemployment in the new country they are settling into can experience
unknown pressure and upset. From the first leg of their journey away from their home to finally
being reunited with all of their family members to settling into their new home on the other side
of a border and often the world; immigrants figuring out that they will not be able to practice a
prized profession can feel let down in many different ways. For some it can mean the loss of
identity and self worth, for others it can indicate a future of financial instability in spite of
willingness to do hard work. The new country they are settling into can also suffer from an
immigrants inability to continue the practice of their previous profession.
These professional shifts for immigrants can mean wasted talent in fields like medicine,
engineering, education and more. Families who are already facing the loss of generational
wealth from inheritance of money or land from the places they left behind will sometimes place
undue pressure on future generations to pay the price for what was lost. They can put
unwelcome pressure and expectations on younger members of the family to return the family to
their former positions of power and wealth.
Policy changes and reform can make a difference. Streamlining credential recognition or
creating a universal recognition system could allow foreign educated professionals to re-establish
themselves in their new homes. Creation of government based programs that allow for skill
bridging would also allow for persons educated under other jurisdictions to gain employment in
their fields of expertise. These updates coupled with employers taking a responsible stance in
their hiring practices by participating in bias training and aiming for inclusive hiring practices
can make it easier for new arrivals to return to their careers in their new homelands. Community
based supports like mentorship programs and language based industry specific trainings can also
make adjustments to new locations easier.
While transportation rideshare giants and new build construction are always in need of people
power, licensed professions can always benefit from knowledgeable providers who have been
educated in other parts of the world. It’s important that we don’t discount ability due to accents
or at times language barriers. As community we can all continue to support inclusive policies
and advocate for both business and professional boards to make these important changes in their
practices.
