A restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, has not been able to recruit a dishwasher for three months. Recently, it offered an annual salary of 50,000 Canadian dollars (about 310,000 Hong Kong dollars) to quickly hire the necessary staff.
The person in charge of the restaurant pointed out that after the initial lockdown and continued layoffs, many restaurants offered subsidies to try to attract employees back.
Canada, one of the most popular countries for immigration, does the country’s current talent shortage mean that it will open its doors in the future, and does it mean that Hong Kong people who intend to immigrate are "easy to find jobs"?
According to local industry professionals, the minimum hourly wage for dishwashing work is 15.2 Canadian dollars (about 95.3 Hong Kong dollars), while the above-mentioned restaurants provide 25 Canadian dollars (about 156.7 Hong Kong dollars). Kind of manpower is in great demand.
Mark von Schellwitz, vice chairman of the Canadian Food and Beverage Association, said that in response to the industry’s gradual recovery from the epidemic, many restaurants are working hard to recruit staff again.
He even pointed out that high-paid dishwashing workers were "a sign of the times." He was not surprised because there was a labor shortage before the epidemic. At that time, Canada's catering industry was already short of 60,000 kitchen and service employees, but it was only after the epidemic. It is getting worse, and it is currently estimated to be as high as 130,000.
There are 130,000 job vacancies in the local catering industry.
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Many restaurants are now willing to provide bonuses and free meals to attract employees. However, some commentators pointed out that 90% of restaurants are currently understaffed. To a large extent, the catering industry is responsible for its own sake. After the epidemic was waived, he began to consider his own prospects, and he did not want to return to the catering industry.
Moreover, due to the current epidemic, customers are usually required to wear masks and to check their passports for vaccination, or to face more work pressure, resulting in fewer new entrants.
According to the CIC News website,
there were about 671,000 job vacancies in Canada in May this year. Among them, the health care industry has recorded the most vacancies for the seventh consecutive month, with about 107,000 jobs; the number of vacancies in the accommodation and catering services industry Ranked second, with about 78,000; followed by retail
, with 73,800 vacancies.
By province, Quebec, British Columbia and New Brunswick have the highest vacancy rates, with 5.1%, 5% and 4.9% respectively.
The healthcare industry recorded the most vacancies for the seventh consecutive month.
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How favorable are the job openings for "immigrants from Hong Kong"?
Shen Weiqi, chief consultant for overseas planning services of Harris Fraser, which provides Canadian immigration and related financial professional services, told Hong Kong 01 that the number of
local job vacancies has risen to more than 870,000, and it is estimated that as many as one-third of companies face labor shortages.
He pointed out that the main reason for the labor shortage is the continuous aging of the population. It is estimated that about 600,000 people will withdraw from the labor market in the next three years.
However, the newly joined labor force is far from enough to fill, because the epidemic has reduced the income by about 200,000 in the past two years. migrant.
However, he believes that the shortage of local manpower is not necessarily beneficial to Hong Kong people who intend to immigrate.
Local employers value Canadian experience. If they have studied locally, have domestic work experience, etc., it is usually more difficult for Hong Kong people who have just arrived in Po to find their first job.
Canadian immigration consultant Shen Weiqi
He suggested that people who are new to your country may lower their expectations and
engage in lower-level jobs first, and at the same time take the opportunity to obtain relevant licenses, because many local jobs require license tests
, such as real estate, insurance, doctors, nurses, and accountants.
Therefore, it is advisable to save experience first, and then establish a career ladder in the local area.
Shen Weiqi told reporters that Canadian employers value local work and study experience.
(Photo by Luo Baoxi)
Shen Weiqi also added that it depends on the type of work.
Generally, there are more job opportunities in the IT industry. In addition, the financial industry such as accounting is also relatively short of people in the local area
.
In addition, he said that Vancouver's employment rate is relatively lower than that of Toronto, and college students may not be able to find jobs in related industries in Vancouver.
Since the launch of two new Hong Kong Pathways in Canada in June this year, Shen Weiqi said that the number of Canadian immigration enquiries his company has received has increased by two to three times.
He pointed out: "Stream A is currently more popular because the biggest advantage of the A category is that you can apply for permanent residency immediately after graduation."
Stream A: Within three years before applying for permanent residency, complete recognized courses in Designated Learning Institutions in Canada. The recognized courses include: bachelor degree or above, at least two years of diploma courses, and at least one year of graduate diplomas Courses, and the postgraduate diploma program requires the applicant to have completed a bachelor or diploma in order to apply, and the relevant bachelor or diploma must be obtained within 5 years before the start of the postgraduate diploma program.
Hong Kong people who have immigrated to Canada recently tend to be younger.
(Data Picture/Photo by Liang Pengwei)
Regarding the recent wave of immigrants, Shen Weiqi pointed out that compared with the changes in the past immigrant population, the general inquiries about the age group of customers are very wide, ranging from 30 to 50 years old, and most of them are highly educated and professionals, such as from the financial industry, accounting industry, Teachers, doctors, etc.
He also pointed out that there is a trend of younger generation in the near future. There are many young people who have just graduated or worked in the workplace for only a few years.
He added: "The current immigration process is much simpler than before. It no longer depends on assets, background, etc., but on whether you are willing to contribute to Canada."
Homesickness should also take care of Mo underestimating the preparation before immigration
For many Hong Kong people who have rushed to emigrate recently, Shen Weiqi suggested that they should be prepared in advance, such as thinking clearly about the purpose of emigration, weather adaptation, and future employment development prospects.
These issues are related to the place of immigration after immigrants. For example, he said: "If immigrant applicants want their children to enter a first-class university there and have good job opportunities, I suggest they choose East Coast Toronto." He added because the local area is a financial center, especially The capital, Ottawa, is also on the east coast, and the political economy is the lifeblood of Canada.
There are many things to pay attention to when buying a property in Canada. The picture shows the Vancouver Condo.
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On the other hand, although Canada’s living space and activity space are large, there are generally leisurely freehand back gardens or platforms, etc., and the cost of home ownership is low. Buying a property locally may be more expensive for Hong Kong people who are expensive and have a narrow living space. Happy.
However, Shen Weiqi reminded those who need to pay attention, such as those who buy detached houses, should understand that because there is no property management company, future maintenance and management need to be done all by one hand.
He said: "If the water heater is broken, you have to repair it yourself, shovel snow in winter, weeding in summer, arrange the rear garden and even pave the bricks by yourself. If you find a worker to do it, the cost is more expensive than in Hong Kong, so the maintenance problem is more troublesome."
In addition, because Canada is sparsely populated and the real estate market is dominated by sellers, real estate agents may not have many choices for customers. They may look at up to 5 properties a day. If they cannot find a suitable unit, the property may be sold in a week.
Therefore, before buying a property, you should think clearly about the type of residence you want, such as a detached house, a town house or an apartment (condo), so that the real estate agent can arrange for the property inspection.
Homesickness is a problem faced by many immigrants. The picture shows Vancouver Chinatown.
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Shen Weiqi never forgets to remind that because
Canada is a tax-collecting country in the world, if you have lived there for 183 days, it will be defined as a tax resident
.
He said: "If you become a Canadian tax resident, the value added from the sale of Hong Kong investment properties will be calculated into Canada's value-added tax." He also pointed out
that if you do not plan to sell your property in Hong Kong, you should also find a professional before immigrating. Surveyors do professional property valuations. Otherwise, if they are sold in the future, the Canadian government is likely to tax the property based on the difference between the actual purchase price and the sale price of the property
, or cause a huge tax burden.
Shen Weiqi, who also grew up in Canada, pointed out that adapting to a new life after immigrating to Canada is also the focus.
He said that before 1997, many Hong Kong immigrants chose to settle in British Columbia, because there are small communities with strong connections, different organizations, overseas Chinese mutual aid associations, etc. to support Hong Kong people, which can help new immigrants adapt.
He said: "In the face of homesickness, it is recommended to participate more in local churches or Chinese organizations to establish community connections."
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