For many immigrants, gaining Canadian job experience is an essential first step in the immigration process. It sharpens their abilities to match the needs of the Canadian work market and increases their eligibility for immigration programs. Usually, a work permit is required in order to be able to work in Canada. Once obtained, a work permit gives its holder temporary resident status, allowing them to live and work in the nation. Seeking a work permit backed by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) can be a wise choice for immigrants without access to other forms of work permits. Here we will discover the top jobs with the most LMIAs issued in 2023.
Before recruiting a foreign worker, a Canadian employer might need to obtain an LMIA. It demonstrates that an overseas worker is required to cover the position because no Canadian candidate is available. Gaining knowledge about the top jobs with the highest number of LMIA approvals in 2023 will help identify areas of the Canadian employment market with the most demand.
The Canadian government assesses the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the home labor market through an LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment). The LMIA must produce a favorable or neutral result in order to support a work permit application. The position is not eligible for this kind of work visa in the event of a negative outcome. An evaluation of the suitability of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the role is another step in the LMIA process.
In Canada, jobs that are awarded LMIAs are usually highly sought after. Based on information from the Canadian government, CIC News has compiled a list of the jobs that obtained the greatest LMIAs in 2023.
List of top 10 jobs with the most LMIAs issued in 2023
Canada’s open data portal indicates that in 2023, the following jobs had the most number of LMIAs:
- General Farm Workers: 8,289 LMIAs issued
- Cooks: 5,187 LMIAs issued
- Food Service Supervisors: 3,739 LMIAs issued
- Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers, and Related Support Occupations: 2,576 LMIAs issued
- Administrative Assistants: 1,619 LMIAs issued
- Retail Sales Supervisors: 1,358 LMIAs issued
- Information Systems Analysts and Consultants: 1,168 LMIAs issued
- Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers: 1,133 LMIAs issued
- Transport Truck Drivers: 1,131 LMIAs issued
- Construction Trades Helpers and Laborers: 994 LMIAs issued
- Administrative Officers: 990 LMIAs issued
The job names and employment codes mentioned above align with the NOC 2016 codes. In order to identify and categorize professions within the national economy, Canada employs the NOC system. Notably, the Canadian government enlarged a number of the NOC codes from 2016 in 2021, leading to the creation of more specialized job classifications from the previously combined categories.
For instance, in 2021, the 2016 NOC Code for General Farm Workers (8431) was expanded. It was divided into three additional distinct categories: 84120 for farm machinery operators and specialized livestock workers, 85100 for laborers handling livestock, and 85101 for laborers handling harvesting. The goal of this reclassification was to give more accurate divisions within the agricultural industry, taking into account the variety of jobs and duties that come with working on farms in Canada.
Overview of LMIA Trends and Streams in Canada’s TFWP
The bulk of the top 100 positions that received LMIAs in 2023 were in the transportation, logistics, farming, administrative, construction, and technology management sectors of the economy. Moreover, the Canadian government granted over 60,000 LMIAs in total to encourage the hiring of foreign workers throughout the year. The main immigration route for work permits supported by the LMIA, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), provided the work permits for these candidates through a variety of streams. There are several streams within the TFWP, and each has its own qualifying requirements based on the type of work, industry, responsibilities, and pay scale.
Among the top ten positions with LMIAs from the previous year, four were classified as TFWP low-wage employment, four as high-wage jobs, one as Global Talent Stream (GTS), and one as Primary Agriculture jobs, which received the most LMIAs overall.
LMIA Insights for Newcomers – How to Enhance Job Prospects in Canada
It may be helpful for immigrants looking for work in Canada who need an LMIA to concentrate on professions that have historically had a high volume of LMIAs issued to them. By using this method, they may have a better chance of finding a company that will sponsor their application for a work permit via the LMIA.
It’s critical that new hires comprehend that their employers are in charge of submitting the LMIA application and paying any related costs. When applying for an LMIA, employers must follow certain guidelines provided by the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Employers must fulfill obligations such as publicly posting the job opening for a predetermined amount of time to demonstrate efforts to hire Canadian citizens or permanent residents first.
Canada made a number of changes to the TFWP and LMIA procedures in March 2024. These revisions included updating workforce quotas and modifying the duration of LMIA clearances. These adjustments are a reflection of continuous efforts to match immigration laws with Canada’s present labor market needs and economic circumstances. Comprehending these updates can facilitate the application process for both employers and newcomers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions regarding their work opportunities in the nation.