Leveling the Playing Field: Evidence on Permanent Resident Access to Public Service Jobs

Abstract Prior to the recent amendments to the Public Service Employment Act, landed immigrants were eligible to work in the public sector; however, Canadian citizens were given preference in the hiring process. Amendments to the Act in 2021, made through Bill C‐30, were intended to remove some of the potential barriers to employment from the hiring process and to provide a level playing field at the federal level for landed immigrants. It is also hoped that providing equal consideration to permanent residents and citizens during the recruitment and hiring process will raise the bar at the provincial and municipal levels, thereby contributing to greater diversity. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of these recent legislative amendments on the hiring and staffing processes in the federal public sector.