Most Canadian businesses can only hire foreign employees after trying and failing in hiring locally. Due to the historic low unemployment rates in Canada, many employers are looking into qualified foreign workers to fill the existing labour shortages. However, as an employer, there are specific tips steps you need to follow to hire a foreign worker. If this is the case, read along to see the tips to ensure that your Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application will be successful.
Over the years, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)—a program allowing Canadian employers to address genuine labour shortages, has been working to help foreign nationals to earn a temporary work permit for Canada. However, before hiring a foreign international, the LMIA is also required from you as the employer.
The LMIA shows that you, as the employer, has taken the required steps to try to recruit a Canadian worker for the position. This form also indicates that there will be a positive or neutral impact on the labour market if you hire a foreign worker. Once the employer acquires an LMIA, the foreign worker is eligible to apply for a work permit. Easy? Right.
Applying for a work permit as a foreign international has never been easier. All you need is a job is:
- A job offer letter
- A contract
- A copy of the LMIA
- The LMIA number
As stated earlier, Canada’s unemployment has been historically low in recent years. The figure currently stands at 5.8 percent. This factor is owing to the rapidly ageing population and low birth rates. As so, employers are looking for foreign workers. This aspect is visible by the number of assessment approved for an LMIA over the years. Since 2015, where 89,000 temporary foreign workers were approved, the number has been on a significant rise.
However, despite these figures, not all LMIAs go through. If you are a Canadian employer considering applying for an LMIA, here are five tips to increase your success percentage:
