糖心传媒

Project Lead

Rhonda Breitkreuz

Team Members  

Karen Hughes, Alla Konnikov, Rupa Banerjee, Haneen Abraham, Vanessa Osei Bonsu, Madeline Robbenhaar

Cluster: Interrogating Immigrant Un(der)employment: Causes, Consequences and Solutions

Canada鈥檚 economic immigration system prioritizes highly skilled newcomers to fill labour market needs. Yet many immigrants experience underemployment, systemic skill barriers, and persistent wage gaps, with newcomer women facing the greatest challenges. This project explores the extent to which non-economic factors鈥攕pecifically social capital and social integration鈥攁re critical, frequently overlooked preconditions for achieving successful economic integration.

The project aims to:

1. Provide empirical insights into the facilitators and barriers for newcomer women鈥檚 employment outcomes to better inform policy;
2. Advance theory by exploring the role of social capital and social integration for successful economic integration of newcomer women.

1. What are the non-economic facilitators and barriers to successful economic integration for newcomer women?
2. What is the role of social capital and social integration for economic integration of immigrant women?

This study employs a mixed-method sequential research design of quantitative analysis of nationally-representative data followed by qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with newcomer women. Analysis of the Canadian Social Survey (CSS) Wellbeing, Shared Values, and Trust (Statistics Canada, 2022) along with select Census data will generate both descriptive and multivariate analyses of newcomer women鈥檚 social and labour force integration. Following quantitative analysis, we will conduct 30-40 in-depth qualitative interviews with newcomer women to generate deeper insights into the nature of patterns identified from the survey analysis, centering the lived experiences and voices of immigrant women.

• , Canada 2025-2030. Rhonda Breitkreuz, PI Karen Hughes, Co-I and A. Konnikov (Co-I). Funded by SSHRC Insight.

Past events and presentations:

Konnikov, A., Breitkreuz, R., & Hughes, K. (June, 2026). Employment activation for newcomer women in Canada: A pathway to labour-market integration? Presented at the Work & Family Researcher Network Conference, Montreal, Canada.

Immigrant women; economic integration; social (non-economic) factors; socio-ecological, intersectional approach