Canadian employers hire foreign workers for a variety of reasons.
Local labour shortages cased by economic development.
Lack of particular skills among Canadian candidates in the region.
Insufficient supply of trained workers by the Canadian educational system.
Undoubtedly, aging population and arrival of new industries are putting even more strain on the hiring options of companies across Canada.
In the event a Canadian employer has exhausted all the available options to fill positions from among Canadians and permanent residents, the Canadian government offers a number of immigration programs designed for hiring foreign workers.
Learn About Your Options
In order to start the process, it is essential to be aware of all the immigration methods available to employers. Although Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) remains the go-to immigration method for most companies, there are a number of other programs that should be considered.
LMIAs are among the most frequently used immigration avenues. Interested employers must obtain an approval called ‘Labour Market Impact Assessment’ prior to the foreign workers applying for a work permit. In other words, an LMIA approval serves as a permit for employers to hire foreign workers. In most cases, this process entails an advertising and recruitment campaign, which is followed by an LMIA application itself.
A number of provinces and territories facilitate immigration of skilled foreign workers. Programs that do not require obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) represent an alternative for companies that seek workers for long-term. Foreign nationals nominated by a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may apply for a work permit and start work in Canada before the immigration process is complete.
Francophone Mobility Program provides a unique opportunity to hire foreign nationals (French speakers) without an LMIA. As a result, the time needed for the worker to start work in Canada is significantly shortened. The program is available to all employers across Canada, except for Quebec. In particular, it is suitable to those who need to fill a skilled position (NOC 0, A and B).
Employers seeking highly qualified professionals may benefit from Free Trade Agreements Canada has with the United States, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Korea, Panama, the European Union, etc. Candidates with an arranged employment in Canada can apply for a work permit without an LMIA. As the result the process is faster and better responds to the labour needs of employers.
Employers may also hire foreign workers through Canada’s partnership with 34 countries. The program called International Experience Canada (IEC) facilitates work permits for individuals up to 35 years of age. In particular, individuals who seek professional development can apply under the IEC subcategory ‘Young Professionals’ and obtain a work permit valid in the range of 12-24 months. Employers benefit from young motivated workers while they do not need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Benefits and Challenges of Hiring a Foreign Worker Canada
Benefits:
- Access to workers with years of hands-on experience and complete training.
- Skilled foreign workers can train less skilled Canadians.
- Foreign workers are highly motivated.
- Employers can choose from a larger number of applicants.
- Foreign worker can bring in new skills
- Higher employee retention and loyalty
Challenges:
- Time is needed; processing of applications ranges from several week to several months.
- Employers must conduct in-depth interviews with candidates to verify their skills over long-distance.
- Employers may need to spend more time orientating a foreign worker at the work site (depends on occupation).
- Higher recruitment costs