Hire a temporary foreign worker in a high-wage or low-wage position
Note:
For applications received on or after April 1, 2021, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will no longer apply policy variations for “owner/operator” applications. These applications will be assessed using the normal process.
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
| Province/Territory | Median hourly wages prior to April 30, 2022 | Median hourly wages as of April 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $27.28 | $28.85 |
| British Columbia | $25.00 | $26.44 |
| Manitoba | $21.60 | $23.00 |
| New Brunswick | $20.12 | $21.79 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.00 | $24.29 |
| Northwest Territories | $34.36 | $37.30 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 | $22.00 |
| Nunavut | $32.00 | $36.00 |
| Ontario | $24.04 | $26.06 |
| Prince Edward Island | $20.00 | $21.63 |
| Quebec | $23.08 | $25.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $24.55 | $25.96 |
| Yukon | $30.00 | $32.00 |
Sources:
- wage rates in column 2 are based on Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey 2019 (1-year average);
- wage rates in column 3 are based on Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey 2019 to 2021 (2-year average).
National Occupational Classification (NOC) Migration
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has switched to the 2021 version of the NOC. Learn more about the NOC 2021 transition.
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