Canadian work permits reached an all-time high with a record of 608,420 in 2022. This figure is a rise of at least 200,000 work permits issued in 2021. Two major Canadian work permit pathways include the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the IMP.
In 2022, around 77 percent of work permit holders came to Canada and belonged to the IMP. Additionally, 472,070 work permits were under the IMP last year.
Both these programs witnessed an increase in the number of permits issued annually. Around 303,545 work permits were implemented under the IMP. In 2021, the IMP returned to power with 310,660 permits as the pandemic effect reduced. Overall, since 2019, there has been a rise of 55 percent in work permits.
On the other hand, the TFWP witnessed just 98,030 work permits in 2019. Similar to the IMP case in 2021, TFWP also returned with 103,340 permits. Also, since 2019, the work permits have seen a rise of 39 percent under the TFWP.
TFWP and IMP- Canadian work permit programs
The International Mobility Program and the TFWP enable temporary foreign workers to work and reside in Canada legally. However, both these programs differ significantly.
Canadian employers get the opportunity to provide work permits for temporary foreign workers to address and combat the existing critical labor shortages. One of the vast differences between the two programs is the LMIA requirement. This document will further assess whether there is a genuine need for a foreign worker. Also, if the foreign national will contribute effectively to the Canadian labor market.
Furthermore, the TFWP requires an LMIA document to issue the work permit. These work permits are a type of employer-specific work permits and not Open Work permits. OWPs are a part of the IMP.
Contrarily, IMP is available to enhance and spread the objectives related to social, economic, and cultural policy. IMP issues work permits while acknowledging the reciprocity factor, applying to Canada and the applicant’s country. Hiring a TFW indicates a significant benefit related to the culture and economy of Canada. As a result, IMP offers programs like the Significant Benefit, Global Talent Stream, and International Experience Canada.
Also, IMP has a widened horizon, due to which the government doesn’t impose the LMIA requirement on it. This applies to situations where it issues Open Work Permits to candidates. OWPs enable workers to explore several industries and don’t limit them to a specific employer.
Conversely, TFWP enables OWP holders to work under a specific employer only and within a particular industry.
Maximum work permits that were effective in IMP streams
Given below are a few streams that issued a majority of effective work permits in 2022-
- 36 percent of effective work permits for several applicants, including medical residents and post-graduation employment applicants.
- 29 percent of effective work permits for Charitable and Religious workers.
- 8 percent of IMP participants (another category).
- 5 percent of the spouses of skilled workers.
- 4 percent of Post-Doctoral Ph.D. fellows and award recipients.
- 2 percent of ICT.
- 2 percent- International Experience Canada.
The Other category of IMP participants encompasses all applicants who acquired an IMP work permit. This doesn’t apply to those under the fixed program streams under IMP.
Additionally, IRCC even introduced specific policy changes; they’re as follows:
- A decrease in the requirements for Physicians who would like to apply for immigration.
- Foreign Trained Medical Professionals will have access to enhanced accredited initiatives. Furthermore, this results from critical labor shortages in the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector.
- Additionally, Canada enables skilled workers’ spouses to apply for OWPs to manage the severe labor shortages prevailing in the country.
- It also allowed more individuals for IEC.
TFWP streams
The TFWP stream with the maximum number of effective work permits in 2022 is as follows:
- 51 percent of work permits under the Agricultural Worker’s Stream.
- Other TFWs holding an LMIA with 46 percent of effective work permits.
- 2 percent of Live-in-Caregivers.
- 0.2 percent of Caregivers.
“Other TFWs holding an LMIA” refers to all other occupations for which a temporary foreign worker was granted an LMIA-based work permit to continue working in Canada.
Notably, Canada has changed its policies to preserve Caregivers as part of the initiative to combat the labor shortages among those in the health care and social assistance sectors. For instance, the requirement for work experience for these workers to be eligible for permanent residence has been reduced by half.
Canadian Provinces with most work permit holders in 2022
Both programs, IMP and TFWP, issued the most Canadian work permits in 2022 under the following provinces:
- Ontario with 221,280 permits;
- British Columbia with 102,845 work permits;
- Quebec with 89,765 permits;
- Alberta with 43,550 work permits;
- Manitoba with 19,765 permits;
- Nova Scotia with 12,645 permits;
- Saskatchewan with 10,550 permits;
- New Brunswick with 9,640 permits;
- Newfoundland and Labrador with 4,210 permits;
- Prince Edward Island with 3,840 permits;
- Northwest Territories with 260 permits; and
- Nunavut—60 with work permits
