Unpacking Immigrant Youth Career Development in Canada

Abstract

This paper uses data from interviews with immigrant youth in Ottawa, Canada, to explore early career-development and employment transition experiences of the youth. Framed by the Community-Interaction Theory of Career Development, the study explores the kind of influences and influencers, which shape career decisions and early on-the-job experiences of young immigrants. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data from face-to-face interviews reveals that some of the key influences on immigrants come from parents, siblings, and members of the ethnic community, in particular from teachers and peers from Sunday language schools, which create a unique climate encouraging students to pursue higher education.

Keywords:

• immigrant youth
• immigrant integration
• transition to employment
• career development
• refugee youth

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.