Maple News reports a significant rise in employer demand for temporary foreign workers (TFWs) across Canada. According to newly released data from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the number of positions approved to be filled by TFWs under closed work permits has more than doubled over the past five years.
In 2023, Canadian employers were authorized to hire 239,646 temporary foreign workers—more than twice the figure reported in 2018, when fewer than 109,000 positions were approved. This trend marks a steady increase from 2016, when only about 90,000 positions received approval. The only interruption in this growth occurred in 2020, likely due to pandemic-related disruptions.
These figures specifically reflect closed work permit approvals, which require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a process that ensures no Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available to fill the job. However, they do not include open work permits or other immigration pathways, so the total number of foreign nationals working in Canada is even higher.
While a rising number of approved LMIA applications suggests employers are increasingly turning to international talent to fill labor shortages, it’s important to note that not all approved positions ultimately lead to an employer hiring a foreign worker. Some businesses may withdraw after receiving the LMIA if conditions change.
This trend underscores ongoing labor gaps in several key sectors across Canada, particularly in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, and caregiving—sectors that often struggle to find domestic workers.
The rising demand for TFWs may also reflect Canada’s broader immigration and labor strategies, which aim to support economic growth and combat demographic challenges such as an aging workforce and low birth rate.
As the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) continues to play a critical role in filling workforce needs, policymakers are under pressure to balance labor supply with fair employment standards and protections for foreign workers.
Maple News will continue to monitor how Canada’s labor demands are influencing immigration pathways and employment policies in the months ahead.