Doctors, engineers drive cabs in Canada-Study

This has been revealed by the findings of a latest study.

University-educated immigrants drive cabs—Aptly named ‘Who Drives a Taxi in Canada’, the study seems to affirm the common saying that tougher job prospects compel many highly-educated individuals to take to taxi driving in Canada.

Canada has nearly thousands of such people who are finding it hard to get employment in their chosen field of expertise. The study involved 50,000 taxi drivers in the year 2006 out of which nearly fifty percent are foreigners.

The study further maintains that twenty percent of such cab drivers possess master’s or undergraduate degree while number of Canada-born cab drivers possessing undergraduate or master’s degree is said to be around 4 percent.

Two hundred immigrants driving taxis are either PhDs or doctors while in case of Canada-born people, those with doctorate or PhD degree driving cabs in Canada is said to be only 55.

In Vancouver, nearly 20 immigrants with PhD degrees are driving cabs due to shortage of jobs here.

Under-employment—root cause of frustration and ailments—Under-employment among immigrants in Canada has resulted in frustration, says Richard Kurland, an immigration lawyer based in Vancouver. It is not uncommon to witness problems of high blood pressure due to increased stress levels among immigrants.

Despite of having a heap of degrees under their belts, newcomers in Canada have to take up jobs that are far below their education level. And this leaves a long-lasting mark on their minds.

Consider, for instance, the case of an immigrant from India who was a qualified civil engineer from India. But, even after repeated attempts to get a job in this chosen field, he failed, says 55-year-old Amrik Mahil.

Mahil admits he had to work in a store along with his wife in the 1980s after moving to Canada. And he became a cab driver in the year 1993 to survive in Canada.

Meanwhile, taking a cue from such incidences, Canada immigration did introduce reforms in the last few years to increase work opportunities for immigrants.

Moreover, Canada has also announced fast recognition of foreign credentials along with compulsory English language tests to improve integration of newcomers in Canada.