We envision a world where talented people living as refugees can compete for global jobs and skilled visas, and where access depends on potential and not the privilege of living without fear.
There are more than 43 million people living as refugees around the world who have fled conflict or persecution. Many of them have skills needed by companies and communities across Canada.
If just 1% of the international talent moving to Canada to fill skills shortages came from within refugee populations, thousands of people would be contributing their skills, rebuilding their lives alongside their families, and leaving displacement behind.
Employers can now access this talent pool
TalentLift and our partners are working to connect hiring managers with job seekers who are living as refugees, unlocking global job and skilled visa opportunities as a new solution to displacement.
As we grow the community of employers sourcing displaced talent and support policies that promote equitable access to Canada's skilled visa pathways, skilled immigration will become an enduring part of the solution to the global refugee crisis.
What is displaced talent mobility?
“Displaced talent mobility” means talented people moving for international work, to companies and communities in need of their skills, from refugee circumstances. Despite their skills and potential, people living as refugees in displacement have been historically excluded from the job and skilled visa opportunities that millions of people worldwide can access. That is changing because of the work of pioneering governments, international and civil society organizations, and employers.
Canada is at an historic moment for opening up a new route to safety for talented people living as refugees through skilled immigration. In recent years, Canada has pioneered the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), a world-first initiative to improve access by people living as refugees to Canada’s skilled visas, and in December 2023, the government announced plans for the pathway to become permanent and to scale.
Displaced talent mobility is growing and Canada is leading the way.
Mohammed’s life-changing journey to Canada
Mohammed is a Fullstack Developer who relocated to Kitchener, Ontario, with the procurement software firm Bonfire. Bonfire interviewed and hired Mohammed while he was living as a refugee from Syria in Lebanon. Mohammed had registered with the global non-profit Talent Beyond Boundaries, a TalentLift partner, eager to contribute his skills and grow his career. He had a bachelor’s degree in information technology; but, like many people living as refugees, Mohammed couldn’t legally work in Lebanon, get decent pay or treatment, or reach his full potential.
Today he’s a core part of an industry-leading team and has a secure future ahead.
Photograph of Mohammed Hakmi © UNHCR/Annie Sakkab
Abdulaziz is a stone carver in Ontario. He used to be a Syrian refugee in Iraq.
César is an Engineer in British Columbia. He used to be a Venezuelan refugee in Peru.
Lucie is a Social Media Coordinator and Office Administrator in Toronto. She used to be a Congolese refugee living in South Africa.
Find talented candidates from our global, diverse and displaced talent pool who are ready to relocate. With TalentLift, finding talent is transformative.