(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- As many new immigrants can attest, there are many barriers for newcomers to the local workforce. In an effort to help internationally educated information and communications technology professionals from around the world integrate more effectively into the Canadian workforce, however, the Information and Communications Technology Council (www.ictc-ctic.ca) launched the "Canada Readiness Tool."

Funded by the Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program, the Canada Readiness Tool, available in both French and English, is an online self-assessment tool that educates internationally educated individuals about the Canadian ICT workplace and its culture, communication and competency requirements.

"Our Government is taking concrete steps to facilitate the integration of newcomers into the work force so that they can put their skills to work sooner, helping to strengthen the labour market and improve the standard of living of all Canadians," Diane Finley, Canada's minister of human resources and skills development, said in a statement. "Attracting and retaining the best international talent to address existing and future labour market challenges is critical to Canada's long-term economic success." 

The Canada Readiness Tool has incorporated feedback from overseas partners and ICT professionals in India, China and the Philippines, and across Canada in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. It offers three self-assessment modules on Workplace Culture, Workplace Communication, and Workplace Competencies as well as guides on resumé building, interview preparation, and the Canadian ICT labour market.

ICTC president Paul D. Swinwood said the Canada Readiness Tool is the first of its kind for the country to help global ICT talent integrate into the Canadian labor market. "Through our innovative Immigration Initiatives that include programs, resources, and tools such as the Canada Readiness Tool, ICTC is paving the way towards helping global ICT talent integrate successfully into the Canadian ICT sector," Swinwood stated.

This recent effort by Canada highlights the need for OECD countries to make it easier for international workers to become productive members of their workforces. Immigration and its affect on the job market is, of course, a sensitive and politically volatile issue, especially, it seems, in the US, where President Barack Obama has been pursuing new measures to (on a very basic level) make many of the undocumented workers in the US (whom are estimated to number 12 million) legal or at least temporarily legal citizens. 

The framing of immigration as such, of course, casts a shadow on the many skilled, legal immigrants that are unable to fully integrate into the US workforce due to unrecognized international qualifications and lack of understanding local culture and customs. As unemployment continues to be high, governments feel the pressure to appeal to native citizens, however, they may be missing out brilliant workers by not providing programs to give immigrants opportunities to become productive workers.

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