Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, has called for an immediate recall of Parliament following Statistics Canada’s August Labour Force Survey, which showed a decline of 42,000 jobs. Genuis criticized the federal government's economic policies, highlighting that full-time employment fell by nearly 35,900 positions and youth employment decreased by 19,000, bringing youth unemployment to 12.9%. He warned that current economic figures do not yet reflect r

The Government of the Northwest Territories has secured an additional 103 nominee spots from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), raising its 2026 total allocation to 300. This increase restores the territorial program to its previous 2024 and 2025 capacity following ongoing government advocacy. To accommodate the additional allocations, territorial officials added a new Expression of Interest draw for August 26, 2026, with an application submission deadline o

As the Canadian workforce grows steadily older, local businesses are navigating a shifting landscape that impacts overall economic output. A recent Statistics Canada report shows that workplace productivity steadily climbs as employees gain valuable experience, reaching its highest potential when teams average between 40 and 50 years of age. However, efficiency begins to taper off slightly among older demographics. The effect varies dramatically across industries, with physic

A new Statistics Canada study highlights significant differences in employment rates between immigrants with disabilities and Canadian-born persons with disabilities from 2022 to 2024. The findings show that immigrant men with disabilities achieved a higher overall employment rate than their Canadian-born counterparts, driven primarily by higher participation among those without a high school diploma. Conversely, immigrant women with disabilities faced a lower employment rate

The Government of Nova Scotia is investing nearly CAD 890,000 in seven community projects to strengthen rural economic development and innovation across the province. Funding will support initiatives such as connecting employers with skilled international post-secondary graduates, creating a pop-up business zone, and launching a startup competition for entrepreneurs. The projects are financed through two provincial funding programs designed to improve competitiveness through

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) opened targeted intake windows for capped employment sectors on July 6. Demand was exceptionally high, with all available Employer Position Assessment (EPA) spaces for the July 6 intake filled almost immediately. A total of 125 EPA applications were accepted, including 25 for Trucking, 50 for Retail Trade, and 50 for Accommodations. The remaining intake window for the Food Services sector is scheduled to open on July 7 at 12:3

Statistics Canada has released updated data on labour market outcomes for postsecondary graduates covering cohorts from 2010 to 2022. The data show that international students accounted for 26% of postsecondary graduates in 2021, compared with 7% in 2010. The study links postsecondary education records with tax data to track graduates' labour market outcomes. It also shows that 81% of international graduates could be linked to tax records two years after graduation, up from 4

Canadian job vacancies rose in the first quarter of 2026. This is the first quarterly increase since 2022. Employers reported 506,700 open positions. This is an increase of 11,800. Both full-time and part-time positions saw growth. Sales and service roles led the job gains. However, health sector vacancies continued to decline. Regionally, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta added the most vacancies. Quebec was the only province to see a decrease. Additionally, the average

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has highlighted the important contribution immigrants and migrant workers make to municipalities across Canada. During a panel discussion held at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual meeting in Edmonton, municipal leaders warned that recent immigration reductions are creating labour shortages and increasing pressure on local services. Many immigrants and migrant workers are employed in sectors that communities depend o

Ontario is introducing major updates to its provincial immigration regulation starting May 30, 2026. These new changes allow the government to completely redesign the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The province will now have the legal power to easily create or remove individual immigration streams based on local needs. Officials aim to simplify the application process and better target current labour shortages. The new rules also strengthen program integrity. For i

A joint study by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Statistics Canada shows that only 20% of recent immigrants worked in their intended occupation in 2021. The data reveal that occupational match rates were higher for individuals with graduate degrees, applicants from developed source countries, and those with pre-admission Canadian work experience. Among the individuals who did not secure a matching position, a large share shifted into lower-skilled employment.

A British Columbia forestry enterprise currently facing insolvency proceedings has been penalized $429,000 and banned from employing migrant workers for two years following a federal investigation. Inspectors determined that Vancouver-based San Industries Ltd. breached five sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The violations included failing to provide advertised wages and working conditions, failing to match positions with approved labour market as

A recent analysis of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) argues that Canada’s use of age-based criteria is an outdated policy that contradicts national values regarding non-discrimination. Under current regulations, applicants receive zero points for age if they are over 45, a practice critics compare to prohibited forms of bias in employment. Research indicates that the assumption of older immigrants being a burden on social services is empirically incorrect, as pension b

In a new report titled Resetting Expectations: Canada’s Economy in a Lower-Immigration Era, economists Don Drummond and Parisa Mahboubi warn that Canada's reduced immigration targets represent a fundamental structural shift. They project that real GDP growth could fall to just 0.4% in 2026, significantly trailing official forecasts from the Bank of Canada and the Federal Government's recent economic updates. The authors emphasize that upcoming monthly employment declines, est

The number of payroll employees in Canada decreased by 60,200 in February 2026, marking a 0.3% decline that followed a modest gain in January. Despite the employment losses, average weekly earnings grew by 1.4% month-over-month to reach $1,338.24, representing a 3.4% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, job vacancies remained relatively stable at 497,200, though they have decreased by 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio edged up

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced some details on the In-Canada Workers Initiative to transition 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence by 2027. Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that the initiative prioritizes individuals who have lived in smaller or rural communities for at least two years and have already applied for PR through regional programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, or various

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced $6 billion Team Canada Strong program signals a significant federal commitment to the skilled trades, creating a development that prospective immigrants should monitor closely. While the initial framework focuses on domestic recruitment, the goal of adding 100,000 Red Seal workers highlights a critical labour shortage that has traditionally driven skilled immigrants into the country. As Canada aims to fill 1.4 million trade positio

Nova Scotia has refined its immigration priorities to address critical labour shortages, with a primary focus on healthcare and skilled trades. Effective April 27, 2026, candidates in these sectors at TEER levels 0–4 are prioritized, including both international applicants and temporary residents already working in the province. Additionally, the province may consider candidates already working in Nova Scotia in selected sectors, including natural sciences, education, natural

Effective May 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will implement a 12-month validity period for all Expressions of Interest (EOI) to enhance inventory management and ensure alignment with current labour-market needs. Under the new measures, EOIs submitted before May 1, 2024, will be closed immediately on the effective date. Those submitted between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, will remain active until April 30, 2027, unless selected sooner. For all new submissions moving forward, profile

Canada’s longstanding commitment to multiculturalism is facing a critical test as temporary residents remain in prolonged legal limbo. While the Federal Government provides robust support for Francophone communities, non-official language ethnocultural groups often lack similar institutional recognition. Current policies frequently prioritize overseas applicants over integrated temporary workers and students who have already proven their success within the Canadian economy. E