About the study

This study examined the effectiveness of mentoring programs for skilled immigrants using Accenture’s survey of mentoring programs across Canada.

What can be learned from this study?

• Mentees had significantly improved their employment situation after mentoring. The unemployment rate of mentees who responded to the survey dropped from 73% at the start of their mentoring to 19% one year later. Respondents also indicated that they were much more likely to be employed full-time and working in the fields they were professionally trained in after mentoring.

• In addition to obtaining full-time work, mentees saw their earnings increase from $36,905 to $59,944 after a year of mentoring. The improved economic situation of mentees is conjectured to lead to less reliance on government benefits, although that link is not specifically documented in the survey.

• The survey suggests that mentoring is a low-cost, high impact intervention for skilled immigrants. More employers should be engaged in mentoring programs to help skilled immigrants connect with other professionals in the field and better understand Canadian workplace culture.

What method(s) did the study use?

ALLIES partnered with Accenture to conduct a survey of skilled immigrants who have participated in mentoring programs in eight Canadian cities between February 2010 to February 2012. Out of 1,900 mentees contacted, 292 responded to the survey.

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