Canada implements stricter hiring rules for low-wage foreign workers

Canada implements stricter hiring rules for low-wage foreign workers

Mandatory eight-week advertising period ​The job must be advertised for at least three months prior to the application, with the full eight-week recruitment drive completed before the LMIA can be lodged. Employers must provide definitive proof that they have made an extensive effort to find local workers before looking abroad. ​The major change in the policy is the mandatory requirement to target young job seekers aged 15 to 30. Employers must demonstrate genuine efforts to attract young applicants through specific actions, such as: Utilising the “Youth” section of the national Job Bank. Advertising on portals specifically designed for young professionals. partnering with schools, colleges, and vocational training institutes. ​Participating in dedicated youth employment programmes. ​These outreach efforts are additional requirements and do not replace existing recruitment protocols. Read also:The unfiltered reality of the Nigerian immigrant experience in Canada ​The rationale behind the changes ​The Canadian government stated that the primary objective is to ensure that Canadian citizens and permanent residents, particularly young people entering the workforce, are given first priority...
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From Arrival to First Job in Canada: How Long It Really Takes Newcomers

From Arrival to First Job in Canada: How Long It Really Takes Newcomers

On this page you will find: How long it takes immigrants to find a job in Canada Why some newcomers find work faster The main barriers facing new arrivals Differences between immigrants and non-permanent residents What the data means for newcomers Faster Job Entry for Newcomers New immigrants to Canada are finding their first job more quickly than previous cohorts, according to new data from Statistics Canada. Among recent working-age immigrants who did not have a job lined up before arriving, 42.5% found their first job or started a business within three months. This marks a clear improvement compared with earlier cohorts, reflecting a labour market shaped by post-pandemic worker shortages. The data suggests that newcomers are entering the workforce faster than before. However, the headline improvement masks a more complex reality. The Timeline: How Long It Takes to Find a First Job The job search experience for newcomers still varies widely. Recent immigrants are more likely than those who arrived 10 to 15 years ago to find work within three months,...
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Canada is producing more graduates than ever — so why is it harder to find a job?

Canada is producing more graduates than ever — so why is it harder to find a job?

Canada has a paradox at the heart of its labour market. The country leads the G7 for the most educated workforce and is producing more graduates than ever before. Yet for millions of young Canadians, the path from school to stable work has never been harder. Between 2022 and 2025, vacancies for jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree and fewer than three years of experience fell by more than half. About 40 per cent of Canadian graduates are underemployed, and youth unemployment reached 15 per cent in September 2025, more than double the adult rate and the highest in 15 years outside the pandemic. The familiar diagnosis of a skills gap is not wrong, but it focuses on the wrong problem. The problem isn’t just skills; it’s that the system that converts learning into recognized workplace performance is broken. Our new report, Entry-Level Employment: The Canary in Canada’s Labour Market Coal Mine, argues that the collapse of entry-level opportunities should not be...
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‘No jobs, no luck’ – Nigerian couple opens up on failed Canada relocation

‘No jobs, no luck’ – Nigerian couple opens up on failed Canada relocation

By Enitan Abdultawab A Nigerian couple has opened up about their difficult experience after relocating from the United Kingdom to Canada, revealing that they eventually returned to the UK after struggling to secure jobs. In a video shared on X by a user named Ozor Ndi Ozor, the couple said expectations about life in Canada did not match their reality, particularly in terms of employment opportunities. “When I posted the video that we were relocating to Canada from the UK, a lot of you saw it but did not warn us that you were suffering in Canada. We spent five years in Canada before we decided to come back to the UK. We went there and came back with nothing. There is nothing there; no jobs, nothing,” they said. They added that despite applying through multiple channels, including online platforms and agencies, they were unable to secure employment during their stay. “In Canada, jobs are usually for the Pakistanis and Indians. If you are a...
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‘Canada Strong’ skills surge puts pressure on employers to deliver quality jobs

‘Canada Strong’ skills surge puts pressure on employers to deliver quality jobs

Protections, EI and privatisation concerns Alongside its support for skills measures, the CLC is calling for stronger protections for workers, beginning with Employment Insurance (EI). The update extends special EI measures by up to five additional weeks for eligible workers, including extra support for seasonal employees, but the CLC argues that government “must build on these temporary measures with significant and permanent updates unions have been calling for.” The CLC’s position highlights ongoing uncertainty over the future structure of EI and the extent of permanent reforms. That uncertainty has implications for layoff planning, seasonal staffing models and support for workers affected by economic disruption, areas where HR policy intersects directly with public programmes. The CLC also voiced concern about “signals pointing toward increased privatization of Canada’s airports,” stating that “public infrastructure must remain in public hands” and warning that “privatization risks higher costs, weaker accountability and puts good union jobs at risk.” Any changes to ownership or operating models in key infrastructure sectors...
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Q1 2026 Canadian Labour Market Update: Youth Labour Market Struggles Continue

Q1 2026 Canadian Labour Market Update: Youth Labour Market Struggles Continue

Different types of jobs are driving the employment weakness among teens compared to those in their early 20s. Key points: The labour market began 2026 on a soft note, as employment slipped from December levels according to both the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Survey of Employment Payrolls and Hours (SEPH). Overall, employment was relatively flat from a year earlier, as gains in health care offset losses in manufacturing and retail. With the working-age (15-64) population in slight decline, flat employment has been sufficient to keep the unemployment and underutilization rates stable, after deteriorating in 2023 and 2024. The static job market has kept conditions for youth depressed, but has been playing out differently for teenagers compared to those in their early 20s. Teenage employment rates have plunged, the net decline concentrated in retail trade and accommodation and food services. Retail has also contributed to the (less severe) weakness among those in their early 20s, but a drop in professional, scientific, and technical...
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Canada’s economy dropped 18,000 jobs in April as unemployment rose to 6-month high

Canada’s economy dropped 18,000 jobs in April as unemployment rose to 6-month high

Listen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Canada's unemployment ‌rate rose to a six-month high of 6.9 per cent in April as the economy lost 18,000 jobs, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday, indicating a continued weakness in the labour market which has struggled in the ​face of U.S. tariffs and trade uncertainty.While Canada has added 67,000 jobs since April 2025, since the start of this year it has lost a cumulative 112,000.Last month's loss means Canada has lost jobs in three out of the four months so far this year, showing a rocky start for the labour market in 2026, according to CIBC economist Andrew Grantham.Just Asking wants to know: What questions do you have about navigating the job market as Canada reports a six-month high unemployment rate? Send us your questions before our May 9 show. The...
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Canada’s unemployment rate rises to six-month high as full-time jobs drop

Canada’s unemployment rate rises to six-month high as full-time jobs drop

By Promit Mukherjee OTTAWA, May 8 (Reuters) - Canada's unemployment rate rose to a six-month high in April to 6.9% as the economy lost a net of 17,700 ‌jobs in March, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday, indicating a continued weakness ‌in the labor market which has struggled in the face of U.S tariffs and trade uncertainty. Analysts polled by Reuters ​had predicted net job gains of 15,0000 and the unemployment rate of 6.7%, almost mirroring the month of March when employment rose by 14,100 and jobless rate was the same. The Bank of Canada said in its Monetary Policy Report last month that indicators such as the employment rate, ‌hours worked and job vacancies suggest ⁠slack, or underutilized capacity, in the labor market, although layoffs remain modest. ...
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Canada’s unemployment rate rises as economy sheds jobs

“We’re looking at pretty volatile labour market data, and the unemployment rate did go up, but it’s more driven by people looking for work, as opposed to people getting fired or being laid off. We’re still seeing some pretty stagnant conditions, especially when it comes to hiring in Canada, which is contributing to a lot of the choppy progress in the labour market.” Source link...
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