Labour Market Impact Assessment
An essential component of Canada's immigration and employment policies is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It provides a mechanism for assessing the impact of hiring foreign workers on the Canadian labour market. explores the LMIA process, its implications for employers and foreign workers, and its significance in Canada's immigration system.
What is LMIA?
An LMIA document issued by employment and Social Development Canada allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers for specific positions. However, the Canadian labour market shouldn't suffer due to hiring a foreign worker.
For international nationals, the LMIA typically needs to secure a work permit. The LMIA supported that.
- There is an urgent requirement for a foreign worker to fill the job.
- No eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available to do the task.
Significance of labour market impact assessment in Canada immigration
The LMIA plays a pivotal role in Canadian immigration, shaping how foreign workers are integrated into the Canadian job market while safeguarding local workers' interests.
However, the following information explains the significance of LMIA in Canada immigration:
Addressing labour shortages
The primary purpose of the LMIA is to help Canadian employers fill workforce gaps. Canada is experiencing persistent labour shortages in key sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, technology, and skilled trades.
By going through the LMIA process, employers can demonstrate that they have been unable to find qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents to fill these roles.
Protecting Canadian workers
The LMIA also helps safeguard Canadian Workers. Hence, hiring foreign candidates is the only option when Canadians are not eligible to fill the job. Advertising for positions should be fair and all-inclusive by ensuring employers conduct full-scale recruitment procedures. The rationale is:
- Avoid displacement of Canadians
- Maintain the competitiveness of the labour market.
- No local talent shall be denied to foreign workers.
Supportive immigration pathways
The LMIA contributes to Canada's general framework of immigration by making direct connections between temporary employment and permanent residency. For some foreign workers, an approved job offer under the LMIA scheme can act as a passage to permanent residency through these programs:
- Express entry: A positive LMIA score can significantly advance a candidate's CRS score, increasing their possibility of receiving an ITA for permanent residency.
- Provincial nominee programs (PNPs): Many PNP streams prefer applicants with job offers supported by LMIAs, especially in industries experiencing acute labour shortages.
Types of labour market impact assessment
There are different types of LMIA, and each LMIA is designed per different job categories and scenarios:
High-wage positions
High-paying jobs that pay at or above the median salary in the province or territory where they are located are covered by LMIAs. These positions frequently need a more stringent hiring procedure to guarantee that Canadian personnel are unavailable.
Employers must first prove that they have made every effort to hire their people before they can hire foreign labour. Such an LMIA is usually used for occupations requiring advanced training and credentials.
Low-wage positions
Employers have more regulatory conditions for jobs paid less than the provincial or territorial median wage. One requirement is providing foreign workers with benefits that include housing and transportation.
Such an LMIA is typically reserved for entry-level or low-skilled jobs where hiring locals would be less demanding, and the labour market competition is fiercer.
LMIA for permanent residency
The LMIA for Permanent Residency is designed for those foreign-skilled professionals planning to seek permanent residency in Canada. This type of LMIA helps the worker transition to permanent status and demonstrates an ongoing need for their skills.
It is often used for jobs where the employer believes the worker's skills will be required for a more extended period and when the individual has had a previous temporary work permit.
Agriculture workers
The LMIA for agriculture workers addresses the sector's skill shortages and caters to the industry's seasonal and specific needs. It includes provisions under immigration programs like the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Stream of Agriculture.
These LMIAS aim to alleviate labour shortages in agriculture and associated industries by enabling temporary foreign workers to cover positions during the busiest agricultural seasons.
Labour market impact assessment requirements
If you are planning to get an LMIA certificate, you are required to fulfil the following requirements:
For employers
- The Canadian employer is responsible for ensuring the business is legitimate and compliant with the law.
- The employer must submit the transition plan for the work location and job position.
- The employer must advertise the job on the Job Bank portal of the Government of Canada.
- In addition to the employment position, the company shall use at least two other recruitment methods.
- The employer should offer wages similar to those of Canadian workers and residents.
For workers
- The job offer is accompanied by a positive LMIA outlining wages, duties, and terms of employment.
- Presentation of LMIA, job offer, and proof of qualification when applying
- Candidates are required to take the medical exam for specific jobs like healthcare or caregiving in particular countries
- Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French to fulfil the job requirements
- Provide a valid passport, proof of finances, and no past conviction
- Follow the terms of employment presented by the offer, such as duties and salaries.
How to get an LMIA certificate?
Getting the Labour Market Impact Assessment certificates involves meeting the requirements and, after that, following the below-mentioned steps:
For employers
- The job needs an LMIA, which identifies which stream will apply, such as high-wage, low-wage, or global talent stream.
- Post the job on Job Bank and other relevant channels for at least 4 weeks.
- Keep a record of efforts to reach out to underrepresented groups
- Job information, including wages, duties, and location.
- Provide proof of business genuineness, such as financial statements.
- Transition Plan if a high-wage position.
- Pay a non-refundable CAD 1,000 per position (some exemptions apply).
- Apply to service Canada and expect follow-ups.
- The foreign worker can be hired if their LMIA is positive. If the decision is unfavourable, the job can be filled by Canadians.
For workers
- Obtain a copy of the employer's job offer and the positive LMIA.
- Provide LMIA certificate, job offer, passport, and proof of qualifications to Apply for a work permit.
- You must now show up for a medical examination. However, it is only required for candidates from select countries and specific jobs.
- If your visa gets approved, you can start working in Canada lawfully.
Processing time of LMIA certificate
An LMIA can be processed in as little as two weeks or as long as several months. However, ESDC officials have assured the LMIA applicants that their applications will be processed within ten days. The following categories are now to be evaluated within ten business days.
- LMIA applications for jobs in high demand.
- LMIA applications for the most profitable occupations
- Applications for LMIA are for jobs that are considered part-time working.
Application fee for LMIA certificate
Applications for the Labour Market Impact Assessment, except for those on permanent residency, cost $1,000 CDN each. A privilege charge of CDN 100 is also required.
How can Province Immigration help you?
Province Immigration is one of the leading firms if you want to work in Canada and need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Having counselled over 285,000 candidates and helped more than 14,000 with visas, we have carved our niche as one of the most reliable names in immigration services for over a decade. Province Immigration is there to ensure a seamless LMIA application process for both employers and foreign workers:
- LMIA requirements.
- How to draft job advertisements.
- Recruitment efforts documentation.
- LMIA application preparation ensures conformity with the regulations set by Employment and Social Development Canada.
- Employer documents: recruitment documents evidence of business legitimacy, among others.
- Worker documents: documentation for qualifications, language and medical tests. It helps avoid errors while at the same time increasing the possibility of success.
- Interview preparation to help secure job offers.
- English language proficiency support for passing IELTS or other language tests.
- Application follow-ups with employers and immigration authorities.
In-depth profile review
Our consultants review your profile, check whether you qualify for an LMIA-supported work permit, and suggest the most appropriate option. If you are an employer or an employee, we will lead you through every step of the way.
Employer advice
To Canadian employers, we provide advice on the following:
Job offer assistance
For workers, we facilitate identifying opportunities with Canadian employers willing to provide LMIA-backed job offers. We also show the process from receiving the offer for a job to applying for a work permit.
Documentation service
We prepare all needed documents correctly, including those as follows:
Resume and cover letter optimization
Our resume-writing professionals craft a compelling CV tailored to Canadian job market standards, increasing your chances of securing a job with an LMIA-backed employer.
Professional direction and coaching
We provide end-to-end guidance, including
Dedicated case officer
Each client is assigned a case officer for easier communication, live updates, and to clarify all their queries during the LMIA process.
Post-visa assistance
We will give you post-landing assistance once you get your work visa. This includes assistance settling into Canada, familiarization with local laws and regulations, and access to the necessary services for easy landing, among other benefits.
Start your LMIA journey today with Province Immigration, your partner for Canadian immigration.
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