Maple News reports that foreign worker admissions to Canada in 2024 are currently tracking well below the federal government’s 2025 targets, potentially coming in over 100,000 short by year-end. If current trends continue, Canada is expected to admit approximately 202,923 foreign workers this year—much closer to the 2026 target of 230,000 rather than the 2025 goal of 367,750.
This projected shortfall suggests the federal government’s gradual reduction in temporary foreign worker intake is occurring faster than scheduled. It also aligns with the direction laid out in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2025–2027, which outlines increasingly modest targets each year.
The 2025 target of 367,750 is structured to include 82,000 workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and 285,750 through the International Mobility Program (IMP). However, data from January to August 2024 shows just 154,515 such admissions—43,315 under the TFWP and 111,200 via the IMP. The highest volumes were recorded in the spring and early summer months.
Month-to-month variations reveal peak arrivals between April and June, in line with traditional seasonal labor needs. For example, in May alone, Canada admitted 7,470 TFWs and 16,205 IMP permit holders. Despite this mid-year surge, the cumulative total remains significantly behind the annual target.
Analysis based on seasonal adjustments and historical arrival patterns suggests that even if current trends persist through the remainder of the year, final figures will struggle to exceed 203,000. That’s nearly 45% below the 2025 target, and roughly aligned with the long-range figure set for 2026.
The shortfall could indicate a response to growing public and policymaker concerns around labor market saturation, housing shortages, and immigration system sustainability. It could also reflect operational changes at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has recently emphasized a “stabilization phase” in immigration planning.
Employers and stakeholders in sectors reliant on temporary labor—including agriculture, hospitality, and tech—may need to adjust their hiring strategies, as the government continues to balance labor market needs with broader immigration and housing concerns.
Maple News will continue to monitor these trends and provide data-driven updates on Canada’s evolving foreign worker policies.