Neoliberal Market Reality and Skilled Immigration
摘要
Canada’s immigration policy is deeply influenced by neoliberal ideas, prioritize economic growth and labour market flexibility but often overlook the experiences of skilled, racialized immigrants. Despite their qualifications, many of these immigrants encounter significant structural barriers such as the devaluation of foreign credentials, discriminatory licensing practices, and employer biases that lead to occupational downgrading and economic marginalization. These challenges stem from structural inequalities rather than individual deficiencies, which explains why many skilled, racialized immigrants are confined to low-wage, precarious employment within the Canadian labour market. The intersections of race, gender, immigration status, and country of origin further intensify these inequalities, with racialized women disproportionately concentrated in undervalued reproductive labour—a reflection of broader global inequities. This labour market segregation not only restricts economic opportunities or mobilities but also fosters to social isolation and psychological distress, including loss of professional identity and mental health challenges. Moreover, neoliberal policies that promote deregulation and labour market flexibility tend to erode labour protections and reinforce systemic discrimination often rooted in colonial histories. This chapter advocates for an intersectional and structural approach to critically examine and address these persistent labour market inequalities. This chapter reveals how neoliberal globalization intensifies labour market segmentation and social inequities, challenging dominant narratives that attribute employment outcomes solely to individual responsibility rather than to entrenched systemic factors.