A study commissioned by Quebec's immigration minister contends that the idea of a foreign-trained immigrant driving a taxi cab to make ends-meat is an overstated pretense.

The study claims that most foreign professionals who have established themselves in the province of Quebec find employment in their chosen field of study within five years of landing.

The research focused on the job history of about 1,500 recent immigrants. It purports that health-care professionals, and people trained in the humanities, had the hardest time transitioning into their field once they arrived in Quebec. However, most other career professionals end up working in their chosen industry. The study also reports that people from western nations are more likely to find a job quicker, often within a year of settling in Canada, than people from Africa or Eastern Europe. The toughest challenge was faced by people from Latin America and Asia.

Lead researcher Jean Renaud, director of the Université de Montréal's centre for ethnic studies, says that the findings show there's still a need to eliminate professional barriers, but overall, Quebec is doing a good job in choosing immigrants with in-demand job skills.