New Registry Will Help Ukrainian Refugees Find Jobs
MONCTON–The federal government says about 60,000 Ukrainians have applied to enter Canada in an effort to escape their country as Russia continues its unprovoked invasion.
An employer registry has been set up to help them find jobs when they arrive. John Wishart, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton, says they’ll be coming in waves.
“This initial phase of arrivals, most of the Ukrainians will be mothers, wives with children, and maybe some of the elderly because the men are back in Ukraine fighting. So we have to understand what their skill sets are and where they can be best placed in the employment system,” he says.
Ukrainians fleeing the war will be allowed to stay in Canada for as many as three years, if not longer, and will be able to work for the duration.
“They’ve identified 67 Ukrainians that are coming to Greater Moncton so far and I think that represents about 28 families–and that’s just in the next three or four weeks,” Wishart says.
“So, a lot of children who will need childcare, be entered in the school system, that sort of thing. We’re working with the city, Ukrainian club, MAGMA, and others to try to determine how best the business community can play a role other than arranging possible employment for the newcomers.”
The federal government says of the applications it has received, it has only processed around 3000 so far. The registries, created by the federal and provincial governments, will help identify opportunities in the province and match skills sets.
“They [employers] can register their business and what opportunities they have and maybe the skill sets that they’re looking for. And the province will take lead provincially on trying to do that matching. We have been talking with the Ukrainian club representatives, and they even identified the skill sets of those first 67 who will arrive.
“There’s a broad range of skills, everything from a university professor to an engineer to a hairdresser, so we think there is an opportunity to do some of the matching,” he says. “Obviously there’ll be a transition because these people are escaping war so we’ll need to take care of their health needs as well,” Wishart says.
For more information, visit the provincial and federal registries.
Tara Clow is the news director with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.