Integration and Career Challenges of Newcomer Youth in Newfoundland in Canada

Description This paper was made possible by an Insight Development Grant to the first author from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Abstract Faced with a labor shortage and low profile of diversity, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada has been making an effort to attract and retain newcomers. Guided by Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory, this qualitative study investigates the challenges faced by newcomer youth, including permanent residents coming as immigrants or refugees and temporary residents with student visas or work permits, who were either already in the work force or could join it in the immediate future. Major themes surfacing from the data include inadequate public transportation, limited social interaction, language barriers, and dim employment prospects. The authors conclude that the key problems lie in lack of funding for needed support, coordination among existing programs, convenient transportation, and job opportunities. The province can expect an increased retention rate of newcomers when these issues are considered and resolved, along with bridging programs established to bring the local and newcomers together.