Toronto is home to one of the most active settlement service ecosystems in Canada, and the demand for qualified staff is ongoing. If you are a newcomer or refugee with language skills, lived experience, and a desire to help others, a career in the settlement sector may be the right path for you. This guide breaks down settlement services jobs in Toronto, explains what employers look for, and tells you exactly where to apply.
Quick Takeaways
- The settlement sector in Toronto employs thousands of front-line workers, counsellors, and program coordinators.
- Employers actively recruit people with lived experience as immigrants or refugees.
- Most entry-level roles require a college diploma or bachelor's degree in social services, community development, or a related field.
- Bilingual and multilingual candidates have a significant advantage.
- Organizations such as ACCES Employment, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services, and WoodGreen Community Services are consistent hirers.
- RefugeeEmployment.ca is a specialized Canadian platform where you can search and apply for roles in this sector.
What Are Settlement Services Jobs?
Settlement services cover the programs and supports that help immigrants and refugees adapt to life in Canada. Workers in this field guide clients through language training referrals, employment preparation, housing navigation, legal aid referrals, school enrollment, and social integration.
Common job titles in this sector include:
- Settlement Counsellor
- Employment Consultant
- Language Instructor or Literacy Facilitator
- Program Coordinator
- Intake and Needs Assessment Worker
- Community Outreach Worker
- Case Manager
- Youth Settlement Worker
These roles exist inside non-profit agencies, municipal programs, school boards, and government-funded community centres. Many positions are funded through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which means they are tied to federal settlement funding cycles.
Front-Line vs. Administrative Roles
Front-line roles involve direct client contact. You would conduct needs assessments, run workshops, or provide one-on-one counselling. Administrative and coordination roles involve program reporting, funding compliance, volunteer management, or community partnerships. Both streams are essential and both are hiring.
Contract vs. Permanent Positions
Because many settlement agencies rely on project-based federal funding, some positions are contract-based, often 12 months with renewal. Permanent roles are more common in larger agencies with diverse funding bases. When you review a posting, check whether the position is contract or permanent before applying.
Top Employers Offering Settlement Services Jobs in Toronto
Toronto has dozens of agencies that hire settlement workers on a regular basis. Below are some of the most active and reputable organizations.
ACCES Employment
ACCES Employment is one of Canada's largest employment service providers for newcomers. It operates multiple sector-specific programs including Internationally Trained Professionals streams and runs offices across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. ACCES hires Employment Consultants, Job Developers, and Program Coordinators on a rolling basis.
WoodGreen Community Services
WoodGreen is a large multi-service agency with deep roots in Toronto's East End. Its settlement and integration programs serve thousands of clients per year. Positions here range from Settlement Workers in Schools to Housing Stability Specialists.
Centre for Immigrant and Community Services (CICS)
CICS focuses heavily on employment-related settlement support. It is known for a strong professional development culture and for hiring staff who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Spanish, Arabic, and other languages common among Toronto newcomers.
Newcomer Centre of Peel
Though based in Brampton, Newcomer Centre of Peel draws applicants from across the Greater Toronto Area. It runs IRCC-funded settlement programs and often posts roles for bilingual counsellors and outreach workers.
Henry Street Settlement Employment Services
Henry Street Settlement has a historic connection to community-based settlement work in North America. Toronto-area agencies inspired by this model continue to offer employment services rooted in community development principles, combining workforce integration with broader social support. Organizations following the henry street settlement employment services model emphasize holistic support rather than a narrow job-placement focus, and this philosophy shapes how many Toronto agencies design their employment programs today.
Toronto Public Library
The Toronto Public Library runs digital literacy, language, and employment programs through its branch network. It hires program facilitators, literacy workers, and community partnership staff who work directly with newcomer populations.
Catholic Crosscultural Services
Catholic Crosscultural Services operates across multiple Ontario cities and runs IRCC-funded programs supporting newcomer integration. It regularly hires settlement counsellors, language instructors, and program coordinators.
Types of Roles Available in the Settlement Sector
Settlement services is not a single job category. The sector includes a range of roles suited to different educational backgrounds and skill sets.
Settlement Counsellor or Settlement Worker
This is the most common frontline role. Settlement counsellors guide clients through applying for health cards, enrolling children in school, accessing food banks, and understanding tenant rights. The role requires strong communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to manage a caseload of clients at different stages of their settlement journey.
Employment Advisor or Employment Counsellor
Employment advisors help newcomers find work in Canada. They assist with resume writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies. Many also connect clients with job placement programs or employer partnerships. Candidates for these roles often come from human resources, career development, or frontline social services backgrounds.
Language Instructor
Language for Newcomers Canada (LINC) instructors are in consistent demand across Toronto. Teaching positions require a TESL Ontario certificate or equivalent, and many organizations also look for instructors with experience teaching literacy-level learners. Language-specific instruction in Arabic, Farsi, and other widely spoken newcomer languages is common in agencies serving those communities.
Program Coordinator
Program coordinators manage the day-to-day operations of a specific service stream, such as an employment program or a housing support initiative. These roles typically require experience in project management, grant reporting, and team supervision.
Case Manager
Case managers work with clients who have complex or layered needs, often coordinating between housing supports, mental health services, employment programs, and legal aid. The role requires strong documentation habits and broad knowledge of community resources.
Qualifications and Skills Employers Look For
Employers in the Toronto settlement sector are fairly consistent in what they prioritize, though exact requirements vary by role and organization.
Education Requirements
Most front-line roles require at minimum a two-year college diploma in Social Service Worker, Community Worker, or a related field. Many agencies prefer a bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or International Development. A master's degree is generally required only for clinical or senior management roles.
For employment-focused roles, a background in Human Resources or completion of a Career Development Practitioner program accredited by CCDP (Canadian Council for Career Development) is an asset.
Language Skills
English fluency is required across the board. Bilingual candidates who speak Arabic, Dari, Somali, Tigrinya, Spanish, Tagalog, Punjabi, or Mandarin are in particularly high demand given the current composition of refugee and newcomer populations arriving in Toronto.
Lived Experience as a Newcomer or Refugee
Many employers explicitly list lived experience as an asset or even a preference. If you arrived in Canada as a refugee or immigrant and have successfully integrated, that experience is a professional qualification in this field. It builds credibility with clients and informs culturally competent service delivery.
Technical and Administrative Skills
Most agencies use case management databases and internal reporting systems. Familiarity with Microsoft Office, data entry, and report writing is expected. Program Coordinators may also need experience with grant reporting or budget tracking.
How to Build Your Career Path in Settlement Services
If you are new to the sector, a structured approach will accelerate your entry.
Start with Volunteer or Placement Experience
Many college programs include field placements at settlement agencies. If you are not currently in a program, contact agencies directly to ask about volunteer opportunities. Volunteer roles such as tax clinic assistant, ESL conversation partner, or orientation facilitator give you direct client contact experience and references from within the sector.
Pursue Relevant Certification
The Career Development Practitioner designation, offered through CCDP partner organizations in Ontario, is recognized across the employment services sector. The Ontario Association of Social Workers also offers a Registered Social Service Worker designation for those with a Social Service Worker diploma.
Network Through Sector Associations
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is the umbrella body for member agencies across Ontario. OCASI holds annual conferences and professional development events where you can meet hiring managers and sector leaders. Attendance at OCASI events is a practical networking strategy for anyone looking to break into the settlement sector.
Build a Sector-Specific Resume
Your resume for a settlement services job should highlight direct client service experience, languages spoken, cultural communities you have connections with, and any experience with IRCC-funded programs or Canadian non-profit operations. Quantify your contributions where possible, for example noting the number of clients you supported or the programs you helped deliver.
You can find guidance on writing resumes tailored to the Canadian job market at RefugeeEmployment.ca, where resources are designed specifically for people with newcomer and refugee backgrounds.
What Your Client Experience Brings to the Role
One of the most powerful advantages newcomers bring to settlement sector employment is firsthand knowledge of the client experience. You know what it feels like to arrive without Canadian work history. You understand the frustration of credential recognition delays. You have navigated service systems that were not always designed with clarity.
This knowledge is curriculum. Agencies increasingly design training around the client perspective, and workers who have lived it can translate policy into practice with authenticity that no classroom fully teaches.
If you have used settlement and employment services for newcomers yourself, that history is not just personal. It is professional capital that sets you apart from candidates without that background.
Where to Find Settlement Services Jobs in Toronto
Knowing where to look is half the job search.
Agency Career Pages
Large agencies such as ACCES Employment, WoodGreen, and CICS post positions directly on their own websites. Checking these pages weekly, or setting up job alerts where available, ensures you see postings before they close.
OCASI Job Board
OCASI maintains a sector-specific job board for the immigrant and refugee-serving sector across Ontario. It is one of the most targeted sources for this type of role and is worth checking regularly alongside agency websites.
RefugeeEmployment.ca
For refugees and newcomers specifically, RefugeeEmployment.ca is a Canada-focused platform that aggregates opportunities relevant to your background. It is built with the needs of newcomer job seekers in mind, meaning the listings and application resources are calibrated for this audience rather than a general Canadian job market. If you are looking for settlement services jobs or roles across a range of sectors that welcome newcomer applicants, this is a practical starting point.
LinkedIn and Indeed
General job boards still carry settlement sector postings. Searching terms like "settlement counsellor Toronto", "employment consultant newcomers Toronto", or "community outreach worker IRCC" on LinkedIn or Indeed will surface a large volume of active postings. Setting up saved search alerts ensures you do not miss new listings.
Municipal Job Portals
The City of Toronto and Toronto District School Board both employ settlement workers directly. The school board hires Settlement Workers in Schools through federally funded programs. Checking their respective careers portals regularly is worth adding to your search routine.
FAQ
Do I need to be a Canadian citizen to work in settlement services?
No. Most settlement sector roles are open to permanent residents and in some cases to people with valid work permits, depending on the employer. Agencies that receive IRCC funding are generally required to comply with employment equity principles, which include newcomers and people with lived refugee experience.
Is there a difference between settlement services jobs and social work jobs?
Yes, though there is overlap. Social work is a regulated profession in Ontario under the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Registered Social Workers and Registered Social Service Workers carry specific designations. Many settlement sector roles do not require registration but prefer it. Some clinical or counselling positions may require a Registered Social Worker designation.
What salary can I expect in the settlement sector?
Salaries vary widely by role, employer size, and funding source. Entry-level front-line positions in Toronto typically start in the low to mid $40,000 range annually. Senior program coordinators and managers can earn $60,000 to $80,000 or more. Unionized positions, particularly at larger agencies, tend to have more defined pay scales and benefits packages.
How important is it to speak a language other than English?
Very important in many cases. Agencies serving specific language communities will often make bilingual fluency a hard requirement. Even in general agencies, being able to communicate with clients in their first language increases your value significantly. If you are fluent in a language spoken by a large newcomer population in Toronto, make sure that is prominent on your resume and cover letter.
Can lived experience as a refugee substitute for formal education?
In some roles, agencies will consider a combination of relevant experience and education equivalencies. However, most formal postings list a diploma or degree as a minimum requirement. The safest path is to pursue a recognized credential alongside your experience, as it opens the most doors. Colleges such as George Brown and Humber offer part-time Social Service Worker programs that are accessible to working adults.
What does a typical settlement counsellor workday look like?
A settlement counsellor might start the day reviewing new intake referrals, then conduct one-on-one needs assessment appointments with clients, followed by a group information session on employment resources or Canadian workplace expectations. Afternoons may involve entering case notes, connecting clients to community resources, or attending a team coordination meeting. The work is varied and often rewarding, though it can also be emotionally demanding given the complex situations clients face.
Take the Next Step in Your Career
Toronto's settlement sector is a meaningful and stable place to build a career, and the demand for skilled, culturally aware staff is ongoing. Employers need people who understand the client experience, who speak multiple languages, and who are committed to helping others build their lives in Canada. Whether you are a trained social services professional or a newcomer with relevant language skills and lived experience, there are clear pathways into this field. RefugeeEmployment.ca exists specifically to connect people like you with Canadian job opportunities that fit your skills and background. Ready to take the next step? Visit refugeeemployment.ca to explore job opportunities.