The Temporary Foreign Worker Program Explained

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The Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which has been around since 1973, allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary jobs when qualified Canadians are not available.

The program, regulated through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, is administered in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for assessing applications from employers requesting permission to hire temporary foreign workers and conducting Labour Market Impact Assessments to determine the likely effect these workers would have on the Canadian labour market.

Service Canada conducts inspections for the Program.

According to government data, there were 191,630 new work permit holders under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2024 across Canada.

In this province, there are roughly 1,200 Temporary Foreign Worker Program positions, although that number is actually higher, because work permits can last months or years.