Maple News reports that despite recent reductions to immigration targets, foreign skilled trades workers remain well-positioned to build a future in Canada, thanks to significant federal investments in infrastructure and housing outlined in Budget 2025.
The Liberal government, under newly appointed Finance Minister Mark Carney, has committed to multibillion-dollar infrastructure developments across Canada. These projects—spanning roads, pipelines, ports, and residential construction—are expected to create extensive demand for builders, electricians, plumbers, and other trades professionals.
At the same time, policy shifts have made it more challenging for newcomers to enter Canada through traditional immigration streams, both temporary and permanent. With a shrinking population and ongoing labour shortages in construction and the trades, the question arises: who will carry out the work needed to realize Canada’s ambitious building agenda?
“There’s an open door for tradespeople in Canada right now,” says an expert in immigration law. “Construction workers from abroad are in high demand—not only because of economic plans, but also because of real gaps in our labour force.”
Foreign nationals looking to gain Canadian work experience have two primary options: temporary work permits or permanent residency pathways.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) provides a route for skilled trades workers, provided they secure a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This assessment confirms that hiring a foreign worker won’t negatively impact Canada’s job market. To be eligible, foreign applicants must also meet Canada’s general admissibility standards—free of serious health or security issues.
Employers must navigate strict LMIA criteria. To qualify to hire through the TFWP, a job must either be located in a region with unemployment below 6% or offer wages at least 20% above the regional median. These conditions are meant to prioritize Canadian labour while allowing flexibility when skills are in short supply.
In parallel, permanent residence remains accessible for trades workers via category-based selection under Express Entry. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increasingly used targeted draws to invite candidates in priority occupations, including the trades, reflecting real-time labour market needs.
While the overall immigration intake may be under pressure, Canada’s urgent need to build makes skilled tradespeople a top priority. As Budget 2025 turns into action, opportunities for foreign workers in construction and similar sectors are expected not only to remain—but to grow.
For many aspiring immigrants with experience in the skilled trades, this could be an ideal moment to pursue work or permanent settlement in Canada through programs aligned with these national priorities.