Turning Vision Into Action: A Month of Global Wins

Wait, you’re not Steph! You’re right. I’m Lara Dyer , Canada Director for TBB – and this month, I get to do a “takeover” of Steph’s usual newsletter introduction. 

Here in Canada, the snow is melting, and there are sure signs of spring! At TBB Canada, we’re excited to have recently welcomed our first arrival from Latin America, and we’re looking forward to many more after our region-wide hiring event in April. 

But first, I wanted to share about a workshop that I was pleased to attend in February, led by the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy , which is part of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. This workshop looked at refugee resettlement in rural Canada and the key findings from this research included that immigration benefits both the newcomers and their new communities, and that what’s needed is a more holistic approach that looks at the connection between immigration and broader community development. For further reading, I’d recommend this article written by Stacey Haugen, Rachel McNally, & Lars K. Hallström.

One of the most common questions I’m asked by employers is, what about retention? I’m always pleased to share that TBB has a 93% retention rate globally, one year after employees start with their new employers. One of the factors, I believe, is our informed decision-making sessions, where we walk TBB candidates and their spouses through a thorough review of their job offer, as well as both the benefits and some realities of life in Canada – such as the winter weather!

When I was helping to develop the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a program designed primarily to address retention in communities smaller than Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, we learned a lot about what’s needed for long-term retention of newcomers. We learned about the need for a “community hug” where not just the employer but the whole community comes around newcomers and makes them feel welcomed and appreciated. This includes a “whole of family” approach that starts with helping spouses find work if they want to and helping to get kids registered for school and recreational activities.

To this, we need to add access to affordable housing and core services like transportation. We sometimes have employers say that they’d love to recruit skilled talent through us, but they can’t in good conscience bring newcomers into their community until they can find appropriate housing. On the plus side, we can help employers recruit the skilled tradespeople they need to build affordable housing!

All these elements contribute to a sense of belonging, where newcomers become fully integrated into their new communities' economic and social fabric. In my experience, newcomers don’t leave their home countries and uproot themselves on a whim; by definition, they are looking for something new, something different. They are looking for a place to belong. This is especially true for refugees and other forcibly displaced people. So as we head into spring, let’s open up our communities, and really our hearts and minds, to receive those who need it most, knowing that we will all be richer for it.

New & Noteworthy 🗞️📣

A successful week at #CRCP2024 in Sydney

Last week, we hosted a site visit to showcase Australia’s Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot at the 2024 Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways ! It was a chance to take stock and celebrate TBB’s work with the Australian government, explore the lessons learned, and look to the future for how we can scale this solution to move more refugees through safe, skilled migration pathways. We heard from candidates, employers, and advocates, and we have so many partners to be grateful for — a special thank you to @Iress for hosting us at their office in Bangararoo (and for their long-term commitment to employing refugees!)

If you’re an employer interested in hiring with us, contact us here .

International Rescue Committee Expands Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot to Tanzania and Mexico in Groundbreaking New Collaboration

We celebrate the victories of our partner organizations working to advance displaced labor mobility, and this is an incredible step forward for economic mobility pathways from Tanzania and Mexico. The International Rescue Committee has just announced the launch of a new project in the two countries in partnership with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and close collaboration with us at TBB, UNHCR, and key government partners and private stakeholders. [LINK Press Release]

Read the IRC press release here .

Committee Meeting in Kampala with Finn Church Aid and UNHCR

As we expand into East Africa, our Africa Recruitment Lead, Josué Musoda , attended the committee meeting Finn Church Aid and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency organized for Congolese refugees. The meeting was the first of a series planned for this year in Kampala, Uganda. The turnout surpassed our expectations!  

These town hall meetings serve as a platform to provide information on available services, identify community needs, and find solutions for refugees and displaced individuals in the region. 

Read all about it on Josue’s blog here .

World Economic Forum Contribution: Transforming the migration system to make it work for displaced talent

The World Economic Forum 's Agenda portal published a timely and insightful article by our Global Advocacy Director, David Manicom . David shared his vision for displaced labor mobility. David’s piece was a follow-up to the "Empowerment through Employment" event at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2024, co-hosted by IOM - UN Migration and UNHCR. 

To read the full article, click here .

A new community for TBB candidates on LinkedIn. 

We have launched our first LinkedIn group exclusively for candidates worldwide. The group already serves as a community where candidates can consult resources, find answers to commonly asked questions, and connect with fellow candidates. 

If you are interested in joining, click here .

Airport Arrivals 🛬

From Melbourne, Australia, to Halifax, Canada and beyond, we are thrilled to report that we have had multiple candidate arrivals this month! These arrivals include our first candidate from Latin America to Canada and the latest cohort of TBB-NHSP nurses arriving to work at the NHS Trust , North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust .

A new cohort of NHS nurses arrived at Heathrow in time for Valentine’s Day. Our team and colleagues from the NHS greeted them.

Success Stories 🏆

Ezaldeen's Inspiring Journey: Championing Palestinian Nurses' Rights

Learn about Ezaldeen’s remarkable journey as a Palestinian nurse who arrived in the UK from Lebanon. After relocating to the UK, he advocated for Palestinian nurses' rights in Lebanon and the UK.

In Lebanon, Palestinian nurses face the daily challenges of a system which does not allow them the right to practice only through a renewable two-year work permit. Ezaldeen's journey symbolizes the pressing need for advocacy and change for Palestinian nurses in Lebanon.

Read his story here . 

TBB Reads 📚

The Adecco Group published their ‘Making Labour Mobility Work’ Policy Paper.

The policy paper ‘Making Labour Mobility Work’ by The Adecco Group examines the global policy landscape and offers some examples of sustainable mobility from their perspective, acknowledging that local labor market policies are insufficient to address the skills shortages employers worldwide face. 

You can read the paper here . 

New U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Study Finds Nearly $124 Billion Positive Fiscal Impact of Refugees and Asylees on the American Economy in 15 Years.

The US Health Department of Health and Human Services published the ‘’Fiscal Impact of Refugees and Asylees at The Federal, State and Local Levels From 2005-2019’’ Report, which sheds light on the economic impact of refugees and asylees on the U.S. government and economy, totaling $123.8 billion.

Read the key findings. 

A New Way Forward for Employment-Based Immigration: The Bridge Visa, by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

MPI published a policy paper outlining their proposal for the United States to implement a new adaptable employment-based visa pathway, called the bridging visa, which would enable the country to leverage immigration better to meet the needs of the national labor market. 

Download the policy paper brief here .

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Betting on Migration for Impact

The Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) published the ‘’Betting on Migration for Impact’’ article, which features our work on extending labor mobility opportunities to refugees, and dissects the opportunities for governments and funders to innovate and scale migration efforts, presenting migration as a powerful solution waiting to be unlocked and funded to scale.

Read the full article here .

Hire Displaced Talent

If you’re looking for a creative solution to your workforce woes, TBB can connect with an untapped pool of displaced talent who are ready and willing to join your team.

Start recruiting!