The Manitoba government is launching the new Manitoba Careers for Internationally Educated Professionals Program to help reduce financial barriers associated with foreign qualification recognition.
“According to Manitoba’s 2022-26 Labour Market Outlook, nearly two in seven job openings in the province’s self-regulated professions are expected to go unfilled. At the same time, research shows that internationally educated immigrants are far less likely to work in their field of study than those educated in Canada,” said Economic Development, Investment and Trade Minister Jeff Wharton. “I am pleased to announce the launch of this new program to support the labour market integration of skilled newcomers in Manitoba.”
The program will provide eligible internationally educated professionals with up to $23,000 in financial assistance toward assessment and training costs associated with registering in one of Manitoba’s 28 non-nursing self-regulated professions.
To be eligible for the program, professionals must have already started the registration process and have an assessment decision letter from their profession’s regulatory body. The program will support professionals who are able to complete the registration process in a timely manner and intend to work in Manitoba after registration, noted the minister.
“Manitoba Start works in tandem with the Manitoba government by supporting internationally trained workers to develop career plans and find stepping-stone jobs in their area of expertise. We also help foreign-trained professionals work through the credential recognition process,” said Judith Hayes, executive director, Manitoba Start. “This funding will increase opportunities for newcomers to more quickly apply their skills to enter the Manitoba labour market.”
The minister noted the new Manitoba Careers for Internationally Educated Professionals Program is modelled on the successful Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) in Manitoba Project, which launched in 2021 to support eligible IENs with financial assistance to pursue registration. To date, that initiative has provided support to over 250 IENs.
For more information on the Manitoba Careers for Internationally Educated Professionals Program, visit gov.mb.ca.
