Call us on 
English
French
Arabic
On the 21st of March, the Canadian government announced significant changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). These changes were influenced by changing labor market conditions and decreased low-skilled and low-wage job vacancies in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are adjusting the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to enable the program to continue to operate in cases where no Canadian workers can fill the necessary role.
Gain a better understanding of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program changes as of May 1st, 2024, focusing on prioritizing Canadian recruitment and ensuring shorter program validity.
Updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
The Honorable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced that existing time and employee-limited measures for the TFWP Workforce Solutions Road Map will not be renewed and will effectively end on the 1st of May. This includes the following.
Updates to the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
The Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a crucial element of the TFWP, requiring employers to demonstrate that hiring foreign workers won't negatively impact Canadians' job prospects and wages.
The government aims to streamline the LMIA process and ensure a more accurate reflection of current labor market trends by shortening the period during which employers’ LMIA is valid from 12 to 6 months.
Updates to the Workforce Solutions Road Map
The Workforce Solutions Road Map is a new initiative that aims to assist employers in finding domestic talent before resorting to the TFWP. Reducing the temporary foreign workforce percentage recruited using the TFWP from 30% to 20% is a significant step. According to the Canadian government, this is made in response to the 0.1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate to 5.8% as of February 2024 and a 25,400 drop in job vacancies to 678,500 in the last quarter of 2023.
The Honourable Minister Randy Boissonnault emphasized, “Today's announcement prioritizes our country’s need to have enough construction workers to build houses, early childhood educators to teach our kids, and health-care workers to treat patients. As we gradually reduce our reliance on temporary foreign workers, we will continue to help employers fill job vacancies while supporting Canadian workers.” This change is expected to create more job opportunities and improve wages for Canadian workers.
Updates to Foreign Labor Hiring Procedures For Canadian Employers
Employers must demonstrate good faith in recruiting and training Canadians before applying for temporary foreign workers. Therefore, among the changes made to the TFWP, employers are advised to explore every option before applying for an LMIA, including recruiting asylum seekers with valid Canadian work permits already in Canada.
As per the Honourable Minister Randy Boissonnault’s statement, these changes were made to “reduce Canada’s reliance on temporary foreign workers and encourage employers to find the talent they need right here, at home. The time-limited measures we introduced in 2022 were necessary as our labor market was facing unprecedented conditions – but now, as times change, we must ensure our Temporary Foreign Worker Program reflects our current needs.”
Impact of Changes to Canada’s Labor Market
The changes are expected to have a mixed impact on the Canadian labor market.
Potential For Labor Shortages
While the new measures aim to reduce Canada's reliance on temporary foreign workers, businesses in sectors heavily dependent on them, such as agriculture and hospitality, might need help filling positions.
This could lead to reduced production, higher consumer prices, or wage pressure in those sectors. It's important to note that the impact of these changes on the labor market will vary across sectors and regions.
Increased opportunities for Canadians
The new focus on domestic recruitment could benefit unemployed or underemployed Canadians by creating more job opportunities and improving wages in specific sectors.
Impact of Changes to Prospective Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada
There will likely be fewer openings for temporary foreign workers overall. Opportunities might increase for temporary foreign workers with high-demand skills across critical sectors.
The long-term impact of these changes remains to be seen. It's crucial to monitor how these adjustments affect businesses, job creation, the integration of newcomers into the workforce, and overall economic growth.
The government is committed to attracting skilled immigrants through permanent residency programs, aiming to build a more balanced and sustainable approach to Canada's labor market needs.
Don't miss this opportunity to streamline your foreign talent acquisition! Contact CanadianVisa.org today to learn more and assess your eligibility. For more Canadian immigration news, please like and follow our social media pages below.
