Canada broadly has two work permit pathways that individuals can pursue:
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
- International Mobility Program (IMP)
Both programs contain multiple work permit streams for different scenarios. It is important to differentiate the two as follow:
- TFWP require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is a document that shows what impact the hiring of a foreign worker will have on the Canadian labour market. These work permits tend to be tied to a single employer in a specific industry.
- IMP exists to meet Canada’s broader social, cultural, and economic goals. IMP work permits do not require an LMIA to be issued, and are often open work permits, meaning that holders can work for almost any employer in most industries.
The IMP has grown in prominence, while the TFWP has seen a steady decline in its share of work permits issued. This growth was primarily a result of two immigration streams within the IMP that saw significant increases: post-graduation employment, and work permits for study purposes.
Notably, the total number of work permits has almost doubled during the ten-year period, a reflection of the increased importance of immigration in addressing labour market shortages. Simultaneously, the prevalence of the TFWP has greatly decreased (except for agriculture programs which have seen a moderate increase in the last ten years).
These findings suggest that Canada is currently in a position where it can fill much of its labour market needs through workers already in the country—except for certain key sectors which have persistent job vacancies.
