Job Fair Connects Newcomers, Employers

The second annual job fair for newcomers will attract more than 400 people seeking employment in Nova Scotia.

The job fair, featuring more than 35 employers, takes place Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Westin Hotel in Halifax.

"A good job is one of the biggest challenges facing many immigrants and international students and one of the most important factors in their decision on where to settle," said Immigration Minister Ramona Jennex. "Newcomers bring much-needed skills to the province and contribute to Nova Scotia's economy."

Newcomers taking part in the job fair will mostly be international graduates, international students near graduation, and immigrants who are either seeking jobs or looking for a career change.

"It's important that employers know that help is available in finding newcomers who can provide the skills that may not be available in the domestic labour market," said Lorena Costa, human resources liaison, Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association. "It's also important the employers know that help is available to integrate newcomers into their workplace."

The employers taking part in the job fair cover a wide range of business and industry, including customer service, engineering, financial services, accounting, health, hospitality, IT, communications, manufacturing and construction.

"To address our need to find enough unique skill sets that our company requires, we've had to search beyond the local market and look at the rest of Canada and abroad," said Lianne Landry, senior human resources manager of Keane Canada, which provides IT outsourcing services from its Halifax location. "We were impressed by the quality of candidates we have hired from the international community. Keane is a global organization and international employees contribute to our culture tremendously."

The event is organized and sponsored by the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association, Nova Scotia Business Inc., Office of Immigration, Department of Labour and Workforce Development, the Greater Halifax Partnership, Halifax Immigrant Learning Centre, Pier 21 Society, Direction Emploi, Saint Mary's University, and Mount Saint Vincent University.