The number of temporary foreign workers (TFW) permitted to work in Canada has doubled compared to five years ago, according to a report from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Public data from ESDC reveals that in 2023, employers were approved to hire nearly 240,000 (239,646) TFWs. Five years ago, this number was less than half of the 2023 figure, with 108,988 TFWs in 2018.
Note: This data only reflects foreign workers in Canada holding closed work permits, which require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
This indicates a rising trend in employment since 2016, excluding 2020, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, ESDC data shows employers were approved to hire slightly more than 90,000 TFWs (90,314).
However, it is important to note that the data provided in this article does not necessarily correlate with an increase in the number of TFWs in Canada. This is because, despite the rising approval numbers, it does not account for employers who later decide not to hire the TFWs.
Instead, these data suggest that more employers are recruiting temporary workers to fill vacancies in their organizations.
Overall Growth in TFW Approvals by Region
The following data outlines the number of positions filled by TFW approvals across Canada since 2016:
2016: 90,314
2017: 98,146
2018: 108,988
2019: 130,457
2020: 125,279
2021: 133,196
2022: 222,847
2023: 239,646
Growth in TFW Approvals by Industry
Other data indicate that the number of TFW approvals in these ten industries has seen the highest increase from 2018 to 2023. This article will list the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 codes for each occupation.
Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related support occupations
Construction trades helpers and labourers
Janitors, caretakers, and building superintendents
Administrative assistants
Retail sales supervisors
Transport truck drivers
Food service supervisors
Cooks
Fish and seafood plant workers
Reasons for This Growth
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), by 2023, temporary residents accounted for 6.2% of Canada’s population, reaching 2.5 million people.
In comparison, data released by Statistics Canada last year showed that “the 2021 Census included only 924,850 non-permanent residents (NPR), accounting for 2.5% of Canada’s total population.”
Note: Among these 924,000+ NPRs, 40.1% had work permits only, while another 14.2% held both work and study permits.
This growth over the past year and five years can be attributed to temporary measures taken by the Canadian government “to help alleviate labour market conditions, especially during the pandemic.”
In other words, many Canadian employers, especially those in low-wage positions dominant in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), needed help to fill vacancies, and the government’s response was to increase the number of TFWs granted permission to work in Canada.
Other TFWP changes introduced during the pandemic include:
Exemptions allowing foreign workers to continue traveling to Canada
Extension of some LMIA validity periods
Accelerated processing for certain TFWP applications
At Altec Global, we are dedicated to helping individuals achieve their Canadian immigration dreams, no matter how challenging the circumstances may seem. If you need immigration assistance, we encourage you to contact our team for a personalized assessment.
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