Negotiating temporal tensions and power: the time problem in qualified immigrant work integration in Canada

Purpose Qualified immigrants (QIs) in Canada face a range of structural barriers to work integration, originating from conflicting perspectives, expectations and needs of multiple stakeholders involved in the integration system. Work integration is a process that evolves over time. We explore how the temporal practices of multiple actors shape the temporality of QIs' integration by examining recruitment processes. Design/methodology/approach We draw on interview and participant observation data from a participatory action research project (PAR) with an immigrant-serving organization (ISO) that seeks to facilitate QI employment. To allow for richer analysis, we focus on recruitment events that bring together multiple stakeholders. Specifically, we explore how temporality is structured by the actions of funding bodies, ISOs, potential employers and QI jobseekers, as well as the implications for QI recruitment. Findings Recruitment practices and outcomes reveal an uneven distribution of temporal power and agency. As actors with variable power and agency negotiate temporal structures within the integration system, their actions result in cascading effects and consequent temporal tensions that impact QIs' ability to access employment opportunities. Practical implications Our study offers insights into how recruitment events and timelines can be designed to improve QI integration outcomes to avoid talent mismatch and waste. Originality/value This study introduces a temporal perspective to immigrant integration, highlighting how mundane temporal practices of multiple actors can have important implications for HRM processes and outcomes.