Executive Summary
		This report examines the ongoing systemic exclusion experienced by women in the workforce, specifically focusing on the intersection of gender and linguistic identity in Québec. In particular, it seeks to understand the experiences and needs of unemployed and labour-market-distant English-speaking women living in Montréal, who are part of a linguistic minority in a predominantly French-speaking province. To better understand the experiences and needs of our target group, we collaborated with Y des femmes de Montréal, an organization that provides employment assistance services and a labour market integration program for this specific clientele. Our research included an environmental scan, an analysis of data from the 2021 Census of Canada, and interviews and focus groups with 30 unemployed and labour-market-distant English-speaking women in Montréal. Additionally, we conducted interviews and focus groups with eight staff members from Y des femmes.

Key findings

• English-speaking women in Montréal face the worst socioeconomic outcomes compared to their French-speaking counterparts due to gender and linguistic minority status.
• Participants identified French as the main barrier to finding employment in Montréal.
• Participants were often unaware or unable to articulate how gender shaped their labour market participation.
• Systemic barriers shift the burden onto women, making it their responsibility to find ways to effectively participate in the labour market.
• Participants expressed the need to reinvent themselves to enter the labour market through entrepreneurship, career changes, or new certifications.
• English-speaking women often experience mental health issues, as noted by Y des femmes staff.

Recommendations to government policymakers and stakeholders working in the employment ecosystem in Québec.

1. Ensure adequate, equitable funding for English-language employment support organizations to expand services and ensure access for all English-speaking women.
2. Enhance collaboration among employment service providers, government, health agencies and other community-based organizations to provide wraparound supports (e.g., specialized mental health services, affordable child care services and transportation) for English speakers.
   
3. Expand French-language learning options through formal and informal (e.g., linguistic mentorship and networking) programs that build field-specific vocabulary and are provided at a low cost or for free to participants.
4. Fund English-language reskilling and upskilling programs at low or no cost, especially to mature workers and/or immigrant women, to align and enhance their skills to current labour market needs and trends.
5. Sensitize employers, hiring managers, and recruiters about the challenges facing English-speaking women in the workforce to enhance inclusivity in hiring practices and workplaces.
6. Build partnerships and foster collaboration between employers and English-language employment services providers to provide a direct path to employment opportunities.

Recommendations to English-language employment service providers.

1. Prioritize the development of oral and written French skills clients need for the workplace.
2. Introduce conversational French groups focused on practical, life-skills vocabulary and scenarios, such as navigating medical appointments, public services, and communicating with their children’s educators.
3. Conduct an assessment of each client’s digital skills to understand their specific needs and tailor the training accordingly.
4. Create awareness of mental health needs and available support, and ensure effective referral and follow-up for clients seeking specialized services in English.
5. Offer an introductory module on entrepreneurship and self-employment in Québec.
6. Hold regular check-ins with former clients to provide support until they secure a job, as they may need extra assistance.