Underutilization and discounting of immigrant skills : professionals on a road to driving taxis in Toronto

Canadian immigration policy has largely been dominated by economic objectives with a commitment to long-term labour market goals. In essence the policy contends that Canada needs young and well educated people to sustain its economic growth. Canadian Immigration policy however, has been ineffective in integrating many of these highly educated and skilled newcomers into their own professions. As a result, professionally trained immigrants who are engineers, doctors, scientists and the like end up underemployed as security guards, factory laborers' [sic] or taxi drivers. This research focuses on the lived experiences of professionally trained immigrants who drive taxis in Toronto. The findings indicate underutilization of significant human capital possessed by immigrants who are professionally trained. It highlights barriers faced to secure employment in their field of study and identifies racism as an important factor in this discourse. Finally, it sheds some light on directions that could help overcome these barriers to employment.