Many jobs across many industries in Canada require a work permit from immigrants also known as international workers.
These jobs also have specific eligibility requirements which change from time to time for employers and employees.
As an immigrant in Canada or someone intending to immigrate to Canada to work,
you should know these jobs and their latest eligibility requirements for 2024 especially as they apply to employers, your prospective employers.
Before you continue reading this article, you need to see my personal guide on moving to Canada you don’t want to overlook the secret and advice it has helped a lot of people.
In this article, I discuss these jobs in Canada with work permit eligibility requirements and their guidelines for 2024.
Table of Contents
What is the Canadian Work Permit?
The Canadian work permit is a legal document that allows a person, particularly an immigrant, to work in Canada.
There are several general eligibility requirements for getting a work permit to work in Canada.
Besides, there are specific industry or job-related work permit eligibility requirements.
First, let’s go over the general eligibility requirements for getting a work permit in Canada.
Don’t miss out;
Jobs in Canada that Require a Work Permit.
With a growing economy and diverse industries, Canada welcomes skilled professionals across various sectors.
However, many of these jobs or employment opportunities have specific industry work permit eligibility requirements.
Below are some of the most in-demand jobs with work permit eligibility requirements:
- Healthcare Jobs: Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health workers are crucial to Canada’s ageing population.
- Software Developer and Engineer Jobs: The tech sector thrives on innovation, making these roles highly sought-after.
- Construction and Trade Jobs: From carpenters and electricians to plumbers and roofers, skilled tradespeople are essential for infrastructure development.
- Business and Finance Jobs: Accountants, financial analysts, and management consultants play a vital role in Canada’s economic success.
- Teachers and Early Childhood Education Jobs: teachers, educators, guidance counsellors, trainers, tutors, and lecturers.
General Eligibility Requirements for Getting a Work Permit in Canada.
To get a work permit in Canada, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- prove to the work permit processing officer or immigration officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires.
- show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home.
- Obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (the immigration personnel may ask you to present a police clearance certificate).
- not be a danger to Canada’s security.
- be in good health and have proof of medical fitness, if needed.
- not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions.
- not plan to work for an employer who, regularly, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
- present any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.
Conditions 6 and 7 above are job-related work permits.
However, there are more job-related work permit eligibility requirements and I will discuss these later in this article.
Jobs in Canada With Work Permit New Eligibility Requirements from January 2024
Starting from January 2024, there has been a notable change in the wage requirements for work permits.
Randy Boissonnault, the Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada revised the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and concluded that from January 1, 2024, employers must review the wages of temporary foreign workers annually.
This, he said, is to ensure salaries match the prevailing wage rates for specific occupations and locations in Canada believing that regular wage adjustments will help maintain fair compensation throughout the employment period.
Thus, the new 2024 work permit guidelines apply mainly to employers and not employees.
Additional Measures Extended Until August 2024
The Canadian government also extended some other measures until August 30, 2024.
These measures include:
- Sector-Specific Employment Caps: Employers in designated sectors can only hire a certain percentage of their workforce from low-wage foreign labour. The sectors likely to be affected are accommodation and food services, construction, wood product manufacturing, food manufacturing, lodging, and residential care facilities.
- Employment Term Limits: Jobs paying below the median hourly wage of the province or territory are limited to a maximum two-year employment term.
- Labor Market Impact Assessment Validity: The validity period for these assessments has been reduced from 18 months to 12 months.
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) closely monitors the labour market to ensure that the program adapts to changes in Canada’s economy and protects temporary foreign workers.
What is The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)?
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows employers in Canada to temporarily hire people from other countries to fill shortages when there is no Canadian or Canadian permanent resident (PR) to do the job.
The TFWP is managed by Canada’s Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Through the TFWP, employers in Canada are able to hire the workers they need on time to get jobs done faster.
Also, the TFWP ensures that foreign workers get the rights and protections they deserve to be safely employed in Canada.
One key characteristic of the TFWP is the requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
To hire a foreign national to work in Canada, the employer would pass through TFWP and first obtain an LMIA showing that the employer wasn’t able to get a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to do the job and would be permitted to hire a foreigner for the job.
The foreigner would then apply for a Canadian work permit to travel to and work for the employer in Canada.
What is The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC),
the department in Canada that monitors and evaluates the impact hiring foreign nationals may have on the Canadian labour market.
If the LMIA produces a positive LMIA result it means that there isn’t a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a position.
On the contrary, if the LMIA result is negative it indicates that a job position should be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
A positive LMIA result would allow an employer to hire a foreign national to work in Canada.
Conclusion
You need a work permit before you can work in Canada as a foreign national and this takes some time to be processed.
However, on average, if you apply online you should have your work permit within 134 days.
For employers, staying informed about the latest eligibility requirements for work permit updates is crucial to ensure compliance and attract the best talents.
Fair wages and ethical practices are key to a successful TFW program.
All employers must ensure strict compliance with stipulated work permit requirements for the betterment of their business, the employees, and the Canadian government.
continue reading; Quebec International Mobility Program: How to Apply the Right Way
