5. Work in CanadaC10. IRCC Policies and ManualsWork Permit

2021 LMIA: Hire a Temporary Foreign Worker in a High-Wage or Low-Wage Position

These changes are part of regular policy reviews to ensure that the TFWP

  • continues to work within its intended purpose, and
  • is only used by employers to fill a position when qualified Canadians or Permanent Residents are not available.

The wage being offered for the position will determine if you need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment under the Stream for High-wage Positions or the Stream for Low-wage Positions, each with their own requirements.

If you are offering a wage to a temporary foreign worker that is:

  • at or above the provincial or territorial median hourly wage, you must apply under the Stream for high-wage positions
  • below the provincial or territorial median hourly wage, you must apply under the Stream for low-wage positions
Median hourly wages by province or territory
Province/Territory Median hourly wages prior to May 11, 2020
2018 wage
Median hourly wages as of May 11, 2020
2019 wage
Alberta $26.67 $27.28
British Columbia $23.98 $25.00
Manitoba $21.00 $21.60
New Brunswick $20.00 $20.12
Newfoundland and Labrador $22.00 $23.00
Northwest Territories $34.00 $34.36
Nova Scotia $20.00 $20.00
Nunavut $30.00 $32.00
Ontario $23.08 $24.04
Prince Edward Island $19.49 $20.00
Quebec $22.00 $23.08
Saskatchewan $24.52 $24.55
Yukon $30.00 $30.00

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, 2018 and 2019