This article assesses the economic precariousness faced by Filipina live-in caregivers during and after the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). Using survey data and focus group interviews, we argue that live-in caregivers’ unique pathway to immigration lead them to face economic challenges that are distinct from other immigrants. Not only do live-in caregivers face onerous employment conditions under the LCP, they have difficulties transitioning into the Canadian labour market because they face the following challenges: being stigmatized when entering the Canadian labour market, having to take costly educational upgrading courses while simultaneously working in ‘survival’ jobs, and having to be their families’ sole breadwinners. Despite these structural barriers, however, the live-in caregivers in our study strove to transition into Canadian society through their resilience and hard work. Regardless of the economic challenges that they themselves faced during and after the LCP, most saw their future in Canada and felt that coming to the country was “worth it.” Cet article évalue la précarité économique que connaît les aides familiaux résidants philippines pendant et après le Programme des aides familiaux résidants (PAFR). En utilisant les données d'enquête et des entrevues de groupes de discussion, nous soutenons que la voie particulière réservée aux aidants à l'immigration comporte des défis économiques qui sont distincts de ceux des autres immigrants. Non seulement les aides familiaux résidants sont-elles confrontées à des conditions d'emploi rigoureux sous le PAFR, mais leur transition vers le marché du travail canadien est difficile à plusieurs égards: elles sont stigmatisés en entrant dans le marché du travail canadien, elles doivent prendre des cours coûteux de perfectionnement tout en travaillant dans des emplois «de survie», et elles sont souvent seuls soutiens de leurs familles. En dépit de ces obstacles structurels, les aides familiaux résidants dans notre étude se sont efforcés de faire la transition à la société canadienne grâce à leur résilience et le travail acharné. Quels que soient les défis économiques qu'elles rencontrent pendant et après le PAFR, la plupart d'entre elles voient leur avenir au Canada et estiment que venir au pays « en a valu la peine. »

This study examines the impact of attaining permanent resident status on the employment integration of migrant caregivers in Canada. The authors use survey data from 631 caregivers who arrived as migrants under a temporary foreign worker program before transitioning to permanent residency, as well as data from 47 focus group discussions. The authors find that although most caregivers do switch out of caregiving work over time, they often remain within a few, lower-skilled occupations. Postsecondary education acquired before migration has no impact on occupational mobility. Caregivers’ lack of financial stability and the stigmatization of their employment experience often constrain their labor market options; moreover, an emotional bond and sense of obligation toward employers often hinder their ability to move out into other occupations, even after receiving legal permanent resident status. From the empirical results, the authors provide theoretical insights into the complex relationship between immigration patterns and labor markets.

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