Last Updated On 14 January 2025, 9:02 AM EST (Toronto Time)
On January 10, 2025, the unemployment rates by Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) were updated on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) website.
This update is crucial for employers and foreign workers as it directly impacts the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under the low-wage stream.
Since September 26, 2024, and until further notice, LMIA applications are not processed if the following conditions are met:
- The unemployment rate of the CMA where the work is located is 6% or higher at the time the LMIA application is submitted.
- The wage offered for the position(s) requested is below the provincial or territorial wage threshold.
In this recent update, seven CMAs have become eligible as their unemployment rates have dropped below the 6% threshold compared to the previous list.
This change provides new opportunities for employers in these regions to access foreign workers under the TFWP.
Table of Contents
A Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) consists of one or more municipalities centred on a population core with a total population of at least 100,000.
CMAs often include multiple cities and towns within their boundaries. For example, Windsor CMA encompasses Windsor, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Tecumseh, and Amherstburg.
Below, we provide the latest unemployment rates for all CMAs as of January 10, 2025, along with comparisons to previous periods.
New Unemployment Rates For Canada CMAs Effective January 10, 2025
Vancouver, Abbotsford, Winnipeg, Brantford, Kingston, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Trois-Rivières now have unemployment rates less than 6% as per the new list.
Whereas Saint John, Guelph, and Barrie are now ineligible until April 3, 2025.
| Census Metropolitan Area | Unemployment Rate (%) for Applications Submitted from Jan 10 to Apr 3, 2025 | Unemployment Rate (%) for Applications Submitted from Oct 11, 2024, to Jan 9, 2025 | Unemployment Rate (%) for Applications Submitted from Sep 26 to Oct 10, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador | 6.0 | 6.6 | 7.2 |
| Halifax, Nova Scotia | 4.6 | 5.7 | 6.1 |
| Moncton, New Brunswick | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.8 |
| Saint John, New Brunswick | 6.1 | 5.7 | 6.8 |
| Saguenay, Quebec | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Québec, Quebec | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| Sherbrooke, Quebec | 4.1 | 5.6 | 5.3 |
| Trois-Rivières, Quebec | 5.2 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| Montréal, Quebec | 6.2 | 6.8 | 7.3 |
| Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec | 5.4 | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| Kingston, Ontario | 5.7 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| Belleville, Ontario | 3.6 | 5.9 | N/A |
| Peterborough, Ontario | 4.5 | 5.2 | 5.6 |
| Oshawa, Ontario | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Toronto, Ontario | 7.9 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Hamilton, Ontario | 6.3 | 6.7 | 7.4 |
| St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario | 6.2 | 6.9 | 7.5 |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario | 7.3 | 8.0 | 7.6 |
| Brantford, Ontario | 4.2 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
| Guelph, Ontario | 6.2 | 5.9 | 5.3 |
| London, Ontario | 6.4 | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Windsor, Ontario | 8.8 | 9.7 | 9.8 |
| Barrie, Ontario | 6.0 | 5.7 | 6.2 |
| Greater Sudbury, Ontario | 4.7 | 5.6 | 6.2 |
| Thunder Bay, Ontario | 4.9 | 4.4 | 3.8 |
| Winnipeg, Manitoba | 5.6 | 6.6 | 6.3 |
| Regina, Saskatchewan | 6.1 | 6.7 | 6.8 |
| Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| Lethbridge, Alberta | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Calgary, Alberta | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.6 |
| Edmonton, Alberta | 6.8 | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| Kelowna, British Columbia | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.2 |
| Abbotsford-Mission, British Columbia | 5.4 | 6.5 | 6.7 |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| Victoria, British Columbia | 3.1 | 3.9 | 3.5 |
The Canadian government introduced several changes to the TFWP effective September 26, 2024, aimed at addressing high unemployment in certain regions. Key updates include:
1. LMIA Refusals in High-Unemployment Areas
LMIAs in the low-wage stream are now refused for CMAs with unemployment of 6% or higher.
Exceptions apply to positions in critical sectors such as:
- Primary agriculture
- Food processing
- Fish processing
- Construction
- Healthcare
2. 10% Cap on Foreign Workers
Employers are now limited to hiring no more than 10% of their workforce through the TFWP, down from the previous 20% cap.
Critical sectors mentioned above have a 20% cap.
3. Reduced Employment Duration
The maximum employment duration for low-wage positions has been reduced to one year, compared to the previous two-year limit.
Employers in CMAs with unemployment below 6% now have increased opportunities to recruit talent through the TFWP.
Similarly, foreign workers seeking employment can target these regions to improve their chances of obtaining a work permit.
The updated unemployment rates for Canadian CMAs, effective January 10, 2025, play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape under the TFWP.
Employers and foreign workers must stay informed about these changes to navigate the program effectively.
With continuous monitoring of regional economic trends, the government aims to balance labour market needs while protecting job opportunities for Canadians.
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