Hamilton's business community has to start hiring more immigrant workers to reverse a disturbing trend of dire unemployment rates for the city's non-Canadian-born workers, says a McMaster University professor.

"Our business people have to take the risk," said Dr. Atif Kubursi, professor of economics. "(Immigrants) are the risk takers. Any risk you take will be worth it."

But some business people argue it's not about racism or preferential treatment to Canadian-born residents that contribute to immigrants stuck in poverty. It's because of Hamilton's degenerating economy that has seen its manufacturing sector devastated by the high Canadian dollar, forcing immigrants to seek jobs in places like Alberta and British Columbia.

"We are not creating jobs in this community," said Richard Koroscil, president of Tradeport International, which operates the Hamilton International Airport.

"We have zero net growth. Our children are leaving Hamilton. It's important to start creating jobs here for both Canadian born and immigrants."

Dr. Kubursi, who was also the acting deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, re-affirmed the desperate financial position Hamilton's immigrant population faces on a daily during the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion's first business forum held last week at the LIUNA Station. About 80 business representatives, city officials and politicians turned out for the breakfast meeting.

Hamilton's population is getting older, and by 2013, it's projected the city will have a labour shortage, said Dr. Kubursi. Some union officials have disputed that claim, believing there will be enough workers available.

Recent immigrants who have professional degrees are instead forced to survive by driving a taxis, delivering pizzas and cleaning businesses, said Dr. Kubursi. The problem has prompted immigrant groups to pressure provincial and federal governments to revamp their accreditation processes.

Canadian-born residents between the ages of 15 and 24 have an unemployment rate of 12 per cent, compared to recent immigrants who have a 20 per cent unemployment rate. Canadian-born residents with a university degree have a 3 per cent unemployment rate, compared to recent immigrants who have a 16 per cent unemployment rate, said Dr. Kubursi.

And if immigrants are working, it is usually at part-time jobs, or jobs in sales and service, which are usually the lowest-paying.

"They are locked out of the higher paying jobs," said Dr. Kubursi.

He pointed out that about 75 per cent of the board of directors of Canada's businesses are without a visible minority member.

His statistics revealed that Canadian born and people who had immigrated to Canada earlier had lower unemployment rates than recent immigrants, who are usually from southeast Asian, African and Asia countries. Dr. Kubursi says an "attitudinal" change has to take place among Canadians to accommodate recent immigrants.

"Immigrants are not a homogenous group," he said. "There are issues that have to be tackled attitudinally. Recent immigrants have more difficulties."

Earlier this summer Hamilton's immigrant community urged the city to adopt a more aggressive retention program for local immigrants. They expressed concern for immigrants leaving Hamilton and travelling to Calgary or Edmonton for jobs. They argued western Canadian cities have immigrant programs, but Hamilton is still in the process of forming one.

Also of particular concern is statistics revealing Hamilton was the destination of 1.7 per cent of immigrants in 2005. Cities that topped the list include Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Representatives of HCC and Settlement and Integration Service Organization (SISO) have partly blamed racism as a barrier for local immigrants, forcing them to seek employment outside Hamilton.

Hamilton remains the home of more than 80 ethnic groups. From 1996 to 2005, about 8,000 professionals and tradespeople immigrated to the city.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who arrived with his family from the Netherlands, said the city has created a roundtable on immigration, and in 2007, the city gave Hamilton's Centre for Civic Inclusion $125,000.

"But the city can't do it on its own," he said.

Dr. Kubursi said Hamilton's community needs an "action plan" and a clear and shared vision to improve how it welcomes the city's immigrant community.

"We're losing in Hamilton," he said. "We need an overarching integration effort and not to fight our territorial wars. Hamilton must be proactive."

And as the Canadian dollar continues its escalation, prompting fears of a recession, Dr. Kubursi said, immigrants will suffer the most of all of the city's vulnerable population.

"Immigrants will bear the brunt of a recession," he said. "We either live together or sink."

80 business reps, city officials, politicians attend Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion's first forum