FACILITATING LABOR MOBILITY IN THE TECH SECTOR
The pandemic has triggered a paradigm shift in regards with work and recruitment. Canada’s expanding tech industry is witnessing a growth surge in demand for developers. In 2020, 98,500 jobs were added with at least 216,000 more for 2021. By 2035, Canada is projected to need 350,000 foreign migrants to choose to come and work in Canada to address the widening skill gaps. Currently, immigrants comprise 37.5% of tech workers, representing around 351,000 people and twice as likely as non-immigrants to be tech workers. Despite efforts from the private sector to diversify recruitment, the tech talent shortage in Canada remains a great challenge.
On the other side of the globe, nearly 10 years after the Syrian war, Lebanon continues to host the largest number of refugees per capita in the world. Multiple crises since 2020 have further impacted the already limited job market for refugees. Female Syrian refugees were particularly affected; over two thirds of women looking for work in Lebanon were unable to find a job. Only 20% of working refugees were female, earning about 40% less than their male counterparts.
According to Humans Rights Watch, the Lebanese Pound has lost 80-90% of its value since 2019, eroding people’s economic ability to access basics like food, shelter, and healthcare. An ILO assessment of Syrian refugee employment in Lebanon finds that low wages, high unemployment and lack of labour market regulation pose serious challenges to livelihoods for both residents and refugees in host communities.
In order to address the lack of employment opportunities faced by refugees in Lebanon and offer a concrete answer to the Canadian tech talent shortage, Techfugees is launching its first “Digital Corridor program” to facilitate access to digital work for forcibly displaced persons in Lebanon and create a bridge to Canada for technically skilled refugees from our local community.
TECHFUGEES’ FIRST JOB READINESS SPRINGBOARD IN LEBANON
The Digital Corridor will start in December 2021 with explorations of remote work opportunities in the tech sector for refugees with a three month apprenticeship scheme for 30 individuals. The programme will focus on preparing the participants for online data labelling and wider digital upskilling. The training will be hosted by local partners including our friends Katatib in Tripoli and RoboGeex Academy in Bekaa until March 2022.
The Job Readiness Springboard includes many courses in order to empower young people and introduce them to remote work tools, such as the English language, professional communication skills, through basic technical skills, to advanced IT skills.
A COALITION OF THE WILLING TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
In order to provide quality trainings to the 30 selected participants, Techfugees is partnering with ANERA, Na’amal, and Humans in the Loop as educational content and training partners. Applications are open until November 25th for the participants !
The program is followed by securing paid job opportunities for all trainees, in addition to the resettlement of web developers who were forcibly displaced to Canada with the support of Techfugees Canada, and in partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries.
The Digital Corridor program is funded by the Western Union Foundation and aims to enhance basic technical skills, in order to support refugees’ access to employment in the tech sector by professionally resettling in third countries faced to talent shortage or enabling them to work remotely.
Follow Techfugees Canada and Techfugees Lebanon on social media to keep posted about this program.
Nowar Rahmani
Digital Corridor Local Coordinator (Beirut) and former Communication volunteer at Techfugees Lebanon