The Government of Canada has announced the extension of temporary special measures under the Employment Insurance Work-Sharing program to help employers facing economic slowdowns avoid layoffs and retain their workforce. The flexibilities will now remain in place until March 31, 2027, giving businesses more time to stabilize while employees continue working reduced hours and receive partial Employment Insurance support for lost income. Since the program’s expansion, more tha

The Ontario Government announced a major workforce development program, backed by $228.8 million in federal funding over three years. The Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response will help approximately 27,000 workers across the province retrain and upgrade their skills in response to US tariffs affecting key industries like steel, lumber, and automotive manufacturing. Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini emphasized the government's

Canada stands at a crossroads as experts debate the country's immigration future amid a shrinking working-age population. Economic analysts suggest the government's plan to maintain near-zero population growth through 2028 represents a necessary correction following rapid expansion that strained housing, healthcare, and public services. However, policy advocates warn that without a comprehensive national strategy, this pullback threatens long-term economic prosperity and lea

New Brunswick will raise its minimum wage to $15.90 per hour starting April 1, marking a 25-cent increase from the current $15.65 rate. Labour Minister Alyson Townsend emphasized that maintaining a competitive minimum wage supports provincial productivity and economic growth across all wage levels. The adjustment reflects the province's 1.7 per cent consumer price index growth in 2025, with rates automatically indexed and rounded to the nearest five cents. Currently, just fi

Alberta added 41,800 full-time jobs last month, cementing its position as Canada's leader in employment growth despite global economic headwinds affecting other provinces. Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow highlighted the province's 3.4 per cent increase in employment over the past year, significantly outpacing the national average of 0.6 per cent. The province's economic diversification efforts, combined with competitive tax rates and a skilled w

Manitoba has updated sector eligibility requirements for its Temporary Resident Retention Pilot, effective February 4, 2026. The changes reflect shifting labour market priorities across the province. Hospitality and Food Services positions are no longer included under the program, while several skilled trades occupations have been added to meet current workforce demands. The modifications aim to better support industries experiencing critical labour shortages and ensure the

Canada saw a modest decline in payroll employment in November 2025, with 26,200 fewer positions recorded than the previous month, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The decrease affected ten of the twenty sectors, particularly retail trade, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services. Despite this monthly pullback, annual figures showed marginal growth, with 48,300 more payroll positions than in November 2024. Average weekly earnings climbed to $1,317.16, m

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission wrapped up a strong first year of its Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), issuing 475 recommendation certificates to skilled workers across priority sectors, including healthcare, business, and trades. The employer-driven program, which runs through 2029, designated 358 employers across the Thunder Bay region and reviewed nearly 900 applications. CEO Jamie Taylor emphasized the pilot's role in tackling local lab

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has revised its Skills Immigration application fee structure as of January 22, 2026. Workers seeking permanent residency through the program can now apply across three streams – Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and Health Authority – with an application fee of $1,750 CAD. Registration remains free of charge, while review requests cost $500 CAD. The program continues to prioritize candidates who address Bri

Employment and Social Development Canada has processed 31,449 positive Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) for temporary foreign worker positions in the third quarter of 2025. Ontario led the provinces with 11,392 approvals, followed by Quebec at 7,811 and British Columbia with 6,336. Alberta recorded 2,868 positive LMIAs, while the Atlantic provinces saw modest numbers ranging from 263 in Newfoundland and Labrador to 779 in Nova Scotia. The prairie provinces of Manitoba

New federal statistics reveal that work permit issuances under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) plummeted to just 2,615 in November 2025, marking the lowest monthly intake since early 2024. This sharp decline follows commitments from federal ministers to "rebalance" the program in response to concerns over housing shortages and wage suppression. While the program saw over 100,000 approvals annually during the post-pandemic peak of 2022–23, the government has since

The Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) is advocating for a new “trusted employer” certification within Canadian immigration programs to prevent worker abuse and strengthen protections for foreign workers in the trucking sector. The MTA’s executive director, Aaron Dolyniuk, has met with provincial labour and immigration officials to propose a program that would require companies to prove they can properly onboard foreign employees — including helping them obtain driver’s lic

Canada added 21,200 payroll positions in October, a modest 0.1% gain that reversed September's decline , according to Statistics Canada. Healthcare led growth with 10,300 new jobs, while finance, public administration, and transportation also posted gains. However, job vacancies dropped to 467,000—the lowest level since 2017—falling 3.9% from the previous month. Average weekly earnings reached $1,312, up 2.2% year-over-year, though the job vacancy rate slipped to 2.6%. The un

On December 19, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the indefinite suspension of intake for Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, effective immediately. This decision addresses the growing gap between demand and available space, resulting in longer processing times for applicants. The pause supports Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which is designed to stabilize immigration levels while addressing critical labour market needs. IRCC w

Canada's job market saw vacancies fall by 14,000 positions in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 2.8% decrease to 492,500 openings. This decline follows similar drops earlier in the year and extends a downward trend that began after vacancies peaked at nearly 986,000 in mid-2022. Full-time and permanent positions bore the brunt of the reduction, while part-time and temporary roles remained relatively stable. Year-over-year figures show even steeper declines, with full-time

New data from Statistics Canada reveals that the median entry wage for immigrants arriving in Canada fell by 10.6% in 2023, marking the steepest decline since 1991. Despite this drop, newcomers' earnings one year after admission remained above pre-pandemic figures. The decrease coincided with a 1.1% rise in overall Canadian wages and appears linked to shifts in admission categories, particularly a reduction in Canadian Experience Class principal applicants—who typically comm

Saskatchewan's labour market showed impressive strength in November, with Statistics Canada reporting 16,500 new jobs year over year, including 14,900 full-time and 1,600 part-time positions. The province maintains the second-lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 5.6%, significantly below the national average of 6.5%. Deputy Premier Jim Reiter highlighted Saskatchewan's robust economic performance, noting substantial gains in health care and social assistance, building and s

Alberta has once again proven its economic strength by creating 28,700 jobs in November 2025, accounting for more than half of all jobs added across Canada. This marks the third consecutive month of significant employment growth in the province. Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow highlighted that Alberta has added over 105,000 jobs since November 2024, demonstrating positive momentum that aligns with the province's rapid population expansion. Youth

An extensive investigation has uncovered disturbing patterns of exploitation affecting nearly 80,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada's agricultural sector. These workers, who harvest the produce that reaches Canadian tables, face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, inadequate housing, and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse. The Investigative Journalism Bureau's findings, supported by Simon Fraser University research , reveal that the Temporary Foreign Worker Prog

Canada's labour market shifted in September, with payroll employment falling by 58,000, reversing gains made over the summer months. The decline affected 11 of 20 sectors, with educational services and manufacturing among the most brutally hit. However, a silver lining emerged: job vacancies climbed to 486,000—the first monthly increase in nearly 9 months. Despite this uptick, job vacancies remain down almost 10% compared to last year. Average weekly earnings continued their