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Employer Attitudes and the Hiring of Immigrants and International Students: Evidence from a Survey of Employers in Canada

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Listed:
  • Fang, Tony

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • Xiao, Na

    (Laurentian University)

  • Zhu, Jane

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • Hartley, John

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Abstract

What are the perceptions of employers towards hiring immigrants and international students in Atlantic Canada? How are they related to hiring outcomes? Our analysis based on a 2019 random, representative survey of 801 employers finds that those employers who report beliefs that multiculturalism is creativity-enhancing in the workplace and that immigrants are harder working than local workers are more likely to report hiring or intending to hire newcomers and international students Although most employers report positive attitudes towards newcomers and international students, employers who report perceptions that immigrants tend to take jobs from domestic workers, accept lower pay, have a lower retention probability, face language barriers, have higher training costs, and hold unreliable credentials are less likely to report hiring from this group.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Tony & Xiao, Na & Zhu, Jane & Hartley, John, 2022. "Employer Attitudes and the Hiring of Immigrants and International Students: Evidence from a Survey of Employers in Canada," IZA Discussion Papers 15226, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15226
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp15226.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    immigrants; international students; labour and skill shortages; employer hiring attitudes; employer survey; Atlantic Canada;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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