The Ontario provincial government recently decided to make it illegal for employers to require Canadian work experience in their job postings, in addition to mandating all job advertisements to display salaries.

Both steps represent victories not only for the workforce in Ontario but especially for newcomers to Ontario - who are often excluded from roles and professions they are qualified for, due to the lack of Canadian experience.

Skills in demand in Ontario

For newcomers who have not yet chosen a career path and hope to transition to permanent residence in Canada, paying attention to the skills in demand
within the province can be an advantage in finding a job in Ontario.

The in-demand skills reflect labor market gaps in Ontario (where the number of workers does not meet the demand for labor) - this information is also used by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to select economic candidates who will be nominated for permanent residence in
the province.

Considering these two factors, newcomers with in-demand skills have a much better chance of finding work, immigrating, and settling permanently in Ontario, due to the inherent value they provide to the provincial labor market.

Accreditation and bridging programs

While recent legislation has made Canadian experience unnecessary when finding work in Ontario, accreditation in your field - and if required, obtaining a license to perform duties in your profession - is a different and very important step newcomers in Ontario must ensure to give themselves the best chance of employment (especially in regulated professions), because accreditation is not only a legal requirement for many professions in Canada, but also reassures employers that workers trained abroad can perform their jobs according to local regulations and standards.

One way to obtain accreditation is through recognized organizations that facilitate this process

Bridging programs can be a great way to gain the necessary skills for those who may need to supplement their international qualifications

The idea behind these programs is to bridge the gap between internationally acquired credentials/education and the experience or training they may need to work in their profession.

Ontario has an extensive network of such programs (from government and private providers) covering a wide range of fields. It is worth noting that these programs are available to workers in regulated professions, or in unregulated professions that require highly skilled labor and are in demand.