A group of newcomers to Canada receive language training in this photo from April 23, 2026. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia Calgary archive

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More than two thirds of newcomers to Alberta have education or credentials that aren’t fully recognized in Canada, a recent study found.

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More than 65 per cent of the study’s participants reported underemployment or working jobs below their qualification levels, despite more than 50 per cent having a bachelor’s, masters or doctorate degree.

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The study, conducted by local non-profit ActionDignity, engaged more than 500 recent immigrants who live or have lived in Calgary, and who represent a range of professional and educational backgrounds and various stages of settlement.

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Only 29.1 per cent of participants reported full recognition of their foreign credentials, while another 25.9 per cent reported partial recognition.

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While 8.5 per cent were awaiting recognition of their credentials, 35.2 per cent reported no recognition.

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Nearly half of those surveyed had repeated courses or training or pursued additional Canadian credentials, despite their existing qualifications. For nearly 40 per cent of participants, those processes posed a significant financial burden.

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Mayssoun Hniedi, manager of employment and career development for The Immigrant Education Society (TIES), said the costs associated with credential recognition processes can range from a few hundred dollars to upwards of $15,000, depending on how regulated a profession is.

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Costs can include document evaluation, regulatory body application fees, exams, bridging programs, licensing fees and other requirements like transportation or safety certifications.

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The processes can take up to a year, and sometimes even longer for refugees who may face challenges with obtaining the proper documents from their home country.

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Only 13.1 per cent of the study’s participants reported full alignment between their qualifications and current employment, while 21 per cent reported partial alignment and 47.3 per cent reported no alignment.

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57.4 per cent said they accepted work below their skill level out of financial necessity.

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As unemployment rates creep higher and more people are competing for the same jobs, employers’ standards also get higher, Hniedi said.

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“They don’t even want to, at times, entertain the idea of hiring a newcomer because to them, why should they, if they have 100 resumes of people who have Canadian experience who speak the language fluently?” she said.

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Mayssoun Hnie-di, manager, employment and development at The Immigrant Education Society, says her clients are facing some stiff challenges entering the job market. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia Calgary archive

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While 80 to 90 per cent of the newcomers who seek out supports from TIES do find employment, Hniedi said, many are unaware there are resources available to them.

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For nearly half of the study’s participants, a lack of Canadian work experience was a barrier to employment. One third said a limited professional network made finding work more difficult, and 17.8 per cent reported experiencing discrimination or bias.

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Many participants said they were selected for immigration based on their expertise, but then struggled to have that expertise recognized when they arrived in Canada.