Women-Focused Career Programs for Newcomers in Canada: Targeted Employment Support
Who this is for: Newcomer women — including recent immigrants, permanent residents, protected persons, and refugee claimants — who are seeking employment support that addresses the specific barriers women face when entering the Canadian labour market.
Introduction
Newcomer women face a labour market experience that is categorically different from their male counterparts — with challenges that are layered and intersecting:
Language barriers
Childcare responsibilities
Credential recognition gaps
Unfamiliarity with Canadian workplace norms around gender
Career gaps due to family caregiving responsibilities in the country of origin
Research from Statistics Canada consistently finds that newcomer women — particularly racialized immigrant women — experience significantly higher rates of unemployment, underemployment, and occupational downgrading than either Canadian-born women or immigrant men.
Women-focused career programs are designed around this lived reality. Unlike general employment programs, they include practical support like childcare and transportation, and content covering workplace rights, gender dynamics in Canadian professional settings, and sector-specific pathways with strong employment outcomes.
Quick Summary
Program | Location | Focus | Key Feature | Cost |
ACCES Women in Skilled Trades | Toronto | Skilled trades | Employer connections, union partnerships | Free |
ISANS Women's Employment | Nova Scotia | Multi-sector | Healthcare pathways, multilingual | Free |
ACHEV Women's Programs | Metro Vancouver | Multi-sector | Healthcare support, BC employer network | Free |
YWCA Employment | National | Multi-sector | Childcare, whole-person support | Free |
COSTI Employment | GTA | Multi-sector | 40+ languages, childcare available | Free |
Programs in This Category
ACCES Employment — Women in Skilled Trades
Employment preparation and employer connections for newcomer and immigrant women pursuing careers in Canada's skilled trades, a sector with persistent labour shortages and strong wages.
Who it is for:
Newcomer and immigrant women — and non-binary individuals — who are interested in pursuing employment in the skilled trades in Canada.
Prior trades experience is an asset but is not required.
Must be eligible to work in Canada.
Language: CLB 5+ recommended.
Delivered in Toronto with virtual components available.
Key benefits:
Guidance on Canada's apprenticeship system — how to enter it, what it involves, and what the pathway to certification looks like
Connections to employers and unions with explicit commitments to diversity hiring in the trades
Preparation for the physical and cultural aspects of trades workplaces, including safety culture and team communication norms
Information on women-specific apprenticeship supports and financial incentives available in Ontario
Duration and format: Workshop and event-based format. Contact ACCES Employment for the current program schedule.
Cost: Free.
How to apply or learn more:
ISANS — Employment for Women (Nova Scotia)
Comprehensive employment support for immigrant and newcomer women in Nova Scotia, with particular strength in healthcare sector pathways and multilingual service delivery.
Who it is for:
Immigrant and newcomer women in Nova Scotia.
Eligible immigration statuses include permanent residents, refugees, and some work permit holders.
Services available in multiple languages.
ISANS has particular program depth for newcomer women entering the healthcare sector.
Key benefits:
Employment workshops covering resume writing, job search strategies, interview preparation, and Canadian workplace rights
One-on-one job coaching from employment specialists with experience supporting newcomer women
Mentoring and employer connection events in Nova Scotia's labour market
Language support integrated into employment services
Referrals to settlement supports (housing, childcare, health services) alongside employment assistance
Duration and format: Ongoing services, workshop-based and one-on-one. Rolling intake.
Cost: Free.
How to apply or learn more:
ACHEV — Newcomer Women's Employment Programs (British Columbia)
Employment workshops, sector-specific training, and employer connections for newcomer women in Metro Vancouver, with strong programs in healthcare support, administrative roles, and community services.
Who it is for:
Newcomer women in Metro Vancouver who are eligible to work in Canada.
Programs vary by stream — some are open to all newcomer women, others target specific sectors or career stages.
Contact ACHEV for current eligibility by program stream.
Key benefits:
Sector-specific employment pathways in healthcare support, administrative roles, and community services
Employer connections in BC's labour market through ACHEV's established employer partnerships
One-on-one employment counselling and job search support
Integration with broader ACHEV settlement services including language support and childcare referrals
Duration and format: Varies by program stream. Contact ACHEV for current offerings.
Cost: Free.
How to apply or learn more:
Apply: achev.ca/services/newcomer/
YWCA Employment Programs
Employment preparation and job coaching programs for women, including newcomer women, available through YWCA locations across Canada.
Who it is for:
Women of all backgrounds, including newcomer women, who are seeking employment support.
Women who face the most significant barriers — survivors of violence, women with interrupted work histories, women in precarious housing — in addition to newcomer women in general employment preparation.
Eligible immigration statuses vary by location; contact the local YWCA for current eligibility.
Key benefits:
Resume and job search support tailored for women re-entering or entering the Canadian workforce
Employment skills workshops covering Canadian workplace rights, professional communication, and job search strategy
One-on-one career coaching from women-centered employment specialists
Connections to subsidized childcare, removing the primary practical barrier to program participation
Connections to mental health, social supports, and community services alongside employment assistance
Duration and format: Varies by location. Drop-in, workshop, and ongoing coaching formats available. Most YWCA employment programs have rolling intake.
Cost: Free.
How to apply or learn more:
YWCA Vancouver: ywcabc.org/programs/services-job-seekers-and-employers
YWCA Toronto: ywcatoronto.org
YWCA Halifax: ywcahalifax.com
YWCA Calgary: ywcacalgary.com
COSTI — Employment and Settlement Services (Ontario)
Multilingual employment and settlement services serving the Greater Toronto Area, widely used by newcomer women for its childcare availability, 40+ language delivery, and breadth of employment support.
Who it is for:
Newcomers in the Greater Toronto Area who are eligible to work in Canada.
Services are multilingual and delivered in over 40 languages, making COSTI particularly accessible for newcomer women who have limited English or French.
Permanent residents and refugees are the primary eligible group; contact COSTI for temporary resident eligibility.
Key benefits:
Job search workshops, occupation-specific training support, and career counselling available in over 40 languages — removing the language barrier to accessing employment services
Childcare available during sessions, directly addressing the primary practical barrier for newcomer mothers
Credential recognition support integrated alongside employment services
Mental health and family support services alongside employment assistance — addressing the whole-person needs of newcomer women
Duration and format: Ongoing services. Drop-in and appointment formats. Rolling intake.
Cost: Free.
How to apply or learn more:
Navigating Childcare While Attending Employment Programs
Childcare is the primary practical barrier for newcomer women with young children. Here is a summary of options:
On-site childcare: Programs at ACCES Employment, COSTI, and some YWCA locations offer on-site childcare during workshops. Ask explicitly when registering.
Childcare subsidy programs: Every province has a childcare subsidy for low-income families. Contact your provincial settlement agency for current subsidy amounts and eligibility.
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care: The federal $10/day childcare system is rolling out across Canada. Availability and waitlists vary significantly by province and city.
Disclaimer: This post is part of Unify Social's Career Development for Newcomers in Canada hub. Unify is not affiliated with any program provider and does not receive referral fees.