Rising demand for TFW workers across Canadian industries. Over the previous five years, the number of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) allowed in Canada has doubled, according to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

According to ESDC data, firms were permitted to hire 239,646, or close to 240,000 TFWs in 2023. Compared to five years ago, when just 108,988 TFWs were issued in 2018, this is more than twice as many.

It is noteworthy that the data is limited to Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) employed in Canada who possess closed work permits necessitating a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). When individuals with open work permits are taken into account, the overall number of foreign employees in Canada is much larger.

This illustrates an ongoing rising trend that has been present since at least 2016—2020 is excluded owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on ESDC data, firms were permitted to hire slightly more than 90,000 TFWs (90,314) in that particular year.

It’s crucial to understand, though, that this statistics may not always point to a rise in the real number of TFWs employed in Canada. Employers who choose not to hire a TFW after first gaining approval are not taken into consideration by the increase in approvals.

Furthermore, this data shows that an increasing number of companies are looking to hire TFWs to fill open positions within their businesses.

Overall Growth in TFW Approvals Across Canada – A Recent Trend Analysis 

Here is the data on positions approved for TFWs across Canada since 2016:

  • In 2016, 90,314 positions were approved.
  • In 2017, the number of approved positions rose to 98,146.
  • By 2018, 108,988 positions were approved.
  • In 2019, the figure increased to 130,457.
  • In 2020, approvals slightly decreased to 125,279.
  • In 2021, the number of approved positions grew to 133,196.
  • In 2022, there was a significant rise to 222,847 positions.
  • In 2023, approvals reached 239,646 positions.

Industry-Specific Growth in TFW Approvals 

Furthermore, supplementary information identifies the ten sectors in which TFW approvals increased by the greatest proportion between 2018 and 2023.

Note: Each occupation listed in this article will include its National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 code.

  • Nurse Aides, Orderlies, and Patient Service Associates (NOC 2021 code: 33102) saw an increase from 16 approvals in 2018 to 2,514 approvals in 2023, marking a 15,613% rise.
  • Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers, and Related Support Occupations (NOC 2021 code: 65201) experienced a jump from 170 approvals in 2018 to 8,333 approvals in 2023, representing a 4,802% increase.
  • Construction Trades Helpers and Laborers (NOC 2021 code: 75110) rose from 132 approvals in 2018 to 5,353 approvals in 2023, showing a 3,955% growth.
  • Light Duty Cleaners (NOC 2021 code: 65310) saw an increase from 201 approvals in 2018 to 3,043 approvals in 2023, reflecting a 1,414% rise.
  • Administrative Assistants (NOC 2021 code: 13110) grew from 287 approvals in 2018 to 3,337 approvals in 2023, indicating a 1,063% increase.
  • Retail Sales Supervisors (NOC 2021 code: 62010) had an increase from 570 approvals in 2018 to 2,999 approvals in 2023, which is a 426% rise.
  • Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 2021 code: 73300) saw a rise from 1,584 approvals in 2018 to 7,297 approvals in 2023, amounting to a 361% increase.
  • Food Service Supervisors (NOC 2021 code: 62020) experienced an increase from 2,358 approvals in 2018 to 10,409 approvals in 2023, representing a 341% rise.
  • Cooks (NOC 2021 code: 63200) grew from 3,162 approvals in 2018 to 11,977 approvals in 2023, marking a 279% increase.
  • Fish and Seafood Plant Workers (NOC 2021 code: 94142) saw an increase from 1,556 approvals in 2018 to 4,529 approvals in 2023, reflecting a 191% rise.

Exploring the Surge in Approvals for Various Occupations

Data from IRCC indicates that in 2023, 2.5 million persons, or 6.2% of Canada’s total population, were considered temporary residents.

On the other hand, according to Statistics Canada’s report from the previous year, there were 924,850 non-permanent residents (NPRs) in the 2021 Census, accounting for 2.5% of Canada’s total population.

Forty-one percent of these NPRs were solely in possession of a work permit, while fourteen percent also possessed a study permit.

The Canadian government’s temporary measures to solve labor market issues, particularly during the pandemic, are to blame for the noteworthy increase in temporary residents that has been witnessed during the past five years and last year.

Put another way, a lot of Canadian firms, especially those that hired for low-wage jobs that were common under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), had trouble filling open positions. Also, to help meet this requirement, the government responded by increasing the number of work permits granted under the TFWP.

During the pandemic, the TFWP underwent additional modifications, which comprise: 

  • Exemptions permitting TFWs to continue traveling to Canada
  • Extended validity periods for certain Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs)
  • Accelerated processing of specific TFWP applications

It has been determined that “some of these measures are no longer needed” as Canada is currently “in a different economic picture… [where] the gap between unemployment and job vacancies [is] closing,” according to Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault.

Furthermore, Canada announced a set of improvements to the TFWP in March of this year. The goal of these adjustments is to stabilize the TFW population in Canada.

Moreover, every new family and resident should be set up for success and… [have] access [to] the services they need [while] ensuring a well-managed, sustainable immigration system based on needs,” said Immigration Minister Marc Miller. Canada has set a target to reduce the number of temporary residents by 5%* within the next three years.

This percentage is predicated on TFWs making up 6.2% of Canada’s population in 2023.