Report offers glimpse into challenges of being a newcomer in London and Middlesex County

Newcomers to the London region often face discrimination, have trouble finding work, and struggle to fully integrate into Canadian society, according to a new survey of immigrants that will be presented to city politicians next week.

Those from sub-Saharan Africa face a particularly large set of challenges, the survey found.

"Compared to those from other regions, they have the fewest number of friends from their own ethnic group, are the least likely to know or trust people in their local community, experience the highest rates of discrimination, tend to work jobs that require no formal education, and have the lowest level of job satisfaction," write the authors of the report, entitled "A Study of Experiences, Challenges and Strengths of Permanent Residents in London-Middlesex."

The results of the survey of almost 400 people, conducted by the Network for Economic and Social Trends at Western University, will be reviewed by city councillors at a committee meeting on Monday.

"A lot of people face discrimination," said Raphael Ezike, a brand strategist who moved to London less than two years ago from Lagos, Nigeria.

His wife, a pharmacist in Nigeria, is working as a personal support worker here in London while trying to raise money to take the many necessary — and pricey — tests to qualify as a pharmacist in Canada.

Ezike has been told he needs Canadian work experience, despite running social media campaigns and live streaming events back home.

"Coming here, with all that experience, it wasn't so easy applying and getting a job," Ezike said.

Employers and others tend to make assumptions about Nigeria that are not true, he added. One person asked him where he learned to speak English so well — Nigeria's official language is English.

"I think when people hear you're African, they think you don't know what you're talking about. They don't know know that we have a Masters or PhD."

The study aimed to gather information about immigrants' perspectives in the region, and to present that data so leaders could better design supports for newcomers. Just under 400 permanent residents, over the age of 18 and who had lived in Canada for six months to nine years, were surveyed.

Middle-aged men from South or East Asia and the Pacific, who came to Canada through an economic immigration program, fared the best in terms of social, cultural and employment outcomes, the survey suggests. Those with more education tended to be happier, the study found.

Young people tended to be more affected by discrimination and didn't feel a strong sense of belonging to Canada, and older immigrants said they had difficulty finding work. Women had more trouble finding work and were generally more dissatisfied, according to the survey.

Chantal Kamgne Tagatzi moved to Gatineau from Cameroon in 2012 before coming to London. She works as a translator and said she's seen African newcomers' health care concerns and job dreams be dismissed.

"A lot of immigrants in Canada are here for economic reasons," she said. "We are selected for our degrees so that we can participate in society, but once we are here, we cannot contribute to the society at the level of education that we have."

Although French is an official language, it's difficult to get by with it in London, Kamgne Tagatzi added. "Canada is especially trying to attract French speaking people to Ontario and to London but it is difficult to get service in French."

The survey is part of the city's newcomer strategy, which aims to attract, integrate, and retain newcomers to London. It found that:

• 60 per cent of permanent residents who lived elsewhere in Canada before coming to the London or Middlesex County lived in the GTA, and were relocating because of the lower cost of living, proximity to family and friends, and better employment prospects.
• 53 per cent of permanent residents reported working full-time, with those aged 36 to 45 most likely to have full-time work.
• Permanent residents, especially women, were more likely to work in jobs that required no formal education, including jobs in the sales and service industries. Half of respondents were not working in jobs that were the same as those they held before coming to Canada.
• Lack of Canadian job experience was the most-often listed reason for not having a suitable job.
• The majority of respondents listed their total household income between $40,000 and $79,000 per year.
• 82 per cent of permanent residents rented their homes.
• 50 per cent of permanent residents learned about London-Middlesex through friends and family, and 38 per cent learned about the region from social media.
• Financial, transportation, language difficulties and confusion about where to go for help, were the most common challenges faced by permanent residents who want to settle in London-Middlesex.
• 47 per cent of respondents said they found the service they needed most when they moved to the region.

Immigrants accounted for the majority of the region's population growth between 2016 and 2021, according to Statistics Canada. The most common places of birth for recent immigrants to the region in 2021 were India, Syria, China, Nigeria, and Iraq.

"Despite their essential contributions, evidence suggests that many newcomers to Canada experience economic and social challenges affecting their settlement and integration," the report states.

"Understanding these challenges is crucial for developing evidence-informed initiatives to foster a welcoming community that is supportive of their settlement, integration and retention in the region."

A spokesperson for the city said the newcomer strategy is an integral part of London's growth.