Employers Hiring Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Must Now Use the New Job Match System

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has a Job Bank feature called Job Match, which rates candidates based on how well they match job posting requirements. As of August 28, 2017, employers seeking a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will need to use this Job Match feature during their recruitment process.

In order to hire a temporary foreign worker, employers often require an LMIA before they can hire the foreign worker.  Once the LMIA is granted, the foreign worker can then use this LMIA to apply for a work permit in Canada.

In pursuing an LMIA, employers must demonstrate that they attempted to hire qualified Canadian citizens and permanent residents first. If the positions can’t be filled with Canadian hires, though, they can apply for an LMIA and use the Job Match system to find suitable TFWP candidates. For more information on employment and immigration in Canada, contact a corporate immigration law firm.

The Launch of Job Match & LMIA Requirements

The Job Match feature rates and matches potential candidates based on their skills for job postings with employers hiring under the TFWP. Prior to applying for an LMIA to hire a foreign national, employers must advertise their job postings on the Job Bank while also using two other recruitment methods that are typical for the occupation to ensure they advertised the jobs effectively.  A new requirement of the LMIA recruitment process is for employers to send out invitations to apply to all job seekers matched with their job posting, within the first 30 days of the job advertisement, if:

  • The potential hires have a rating of four stars or more for high-wage positions (the job pays the median provincial/territorial wage or higher); or,
  • The potential hires have a rating of two stars or more for low-wage positions (the job pays less than the median provincial/territorial wage).

Corporate Immigration Programs

There are other corporate immigration programs for hiring foreign workers outside of the TFWP that do not require employers to obtain LMIAs prior to hiring. The International Mobility Program (IMP) manages the LMIA-exempt hiring cases and covers various programs including:

  • The International Experience Canada (IEC) Program;
  • The Intra-Company Transfer Program; and,
  • NAFTA recruitment programs.

For more information about the TFWP, LMIAs, and the International Mobility Program, contact a corporate immigration law firm.