Analyn’s (Not So Simple) Truths about her Future of Work

My name is Analyn and I am twenty-two years old. My parents immigrated to Canada as skilled immigrants from the Philippines when I was 13-years old. In the Philippines, my father was a chemical engineer and my mother a school-teacher. Both have Master’s Degrees from very reputable Universities in Manila.

We have been in Canada nearly a decade. My father works as a quality control worker at a food processing plant. My mother works at the airport as a maintenance person.

On January 5th 2018 my father opened his morning paper to read the headline:

“Canada’s Unemployment Rate Plunges to Lowest in 40 Years”

My father shook his head in disappointment. As an active member of the Filipino-Canadian community he knew his friends would read the same headline, many of them doctors, professors and engineers in their home country, but like him working in low-skilled jobs in Canada and many of them having to find additional part-time employment to make ends meet for their families.

Yes, my father was employed, but was drastically underemployed, meaning that he was not fulfilling a career that he had studied for an had experienced in, but taking any job to make ends meet at home.

Simple truth #1. In Canada, my father will earn significantly less as an immigrant whether a chemical engineer, quality control person or any other occupation, than his native-born colleages.

I am in my last year of undergraduate studies to become an architect. I have always been an excellent student, in addition to having top grades I have volunteered my time for community causes through my Church, interned at reputable architectural and design firms to gain work experience, and played field hockey, becoming a notable athlete in my community to be able to have access to scholarships to fund my education.

Despite all of those activities, I was still required to work part-time, to absorb some of the family’s financial burden of having two children in post-secondary education at the same time. But as a student, the majority of my time was spent looking for work instead of working. In addition to my very busy schedule not being able to accommodate most employers’ required hours, I did not have the experience they required even for basic jobs. I had the skillsbut not the experience.

Simple truth #2: In most western economies, youth unemployment is DOUBLE the national average.

I was lucky to find odd jobs and on-campus jobs at my university and contribute what I could to my family.

I am excited to become an Architect. I will not be able to pursue my Master’s Degree at this time as the cost of two additional years of study will be too much for my family to bear. As mentioned, I have volunteered and interned as much as I could throughout my studies to gain industry experience and have a good set of references as I embark on my job search.

Simple truth #3: Right now, across the world there are 71 Million people under the age of 24 actively looking for work today (are unemployed). For those lucky to land their job (and are employed), more than 156 Million of them are living under the poverty level for their countries. Yet a recent study prepared by the Government of Canada identified that more than 40% of young people are overqualified for their jobs.

Once I land a job in my first firm, I am intent on pursuing my Graduate Degree so I can advance in my career. However I am finding that most employers do not offer a sufficient program of support for new employees to advance their skillsets and education.

Simple truth #4: Advanced computing power, coupled with advances in machine learning (AI) and robotics, will impact most industries, and most jobs, in the world. More than 375 Million people will be required to acquire new skills to remain relevant in the changing workforce.

I took advantage of a mentorship program at my University where women entrepreneurs and business people coached students like me on entering the workforce. As part of my mentorship program I attended a one-day conference that was focused on women in the workforce.

Simple truth #5: Women, especially immigrant women, are paid far less than their male counterparts to do the same job.

Despite that information, I am confident that I have done everything I can to make a solid case to a company why I would be an asset to their firm. Not only have I shown that I can work hard and learn quickly, I have had so many unique experiences both in the Philippines and during my time in Canada that have provided me so many skills that will be valuable to any employer. What employer wouldn’t want someone with such a diverse skill-set?

Simple truth #6: Skills-based hiring, a new method of recruitment that values the application of demonstrable skills over subjective elements like age, gender and ethnic background can achieve up to a 300% increase in equal and diverse hiring in companies, along with significant cost savings associated with the recruitment and onboarding process.

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