These are the areas in Canada the place low-wage LMIAs gained’t be processed, as of January 2025…

These contemplating making use of for Labour Market Affect Assessments (LMIAs) below the low-wage stream of the Momentary Overseas Employee Program (TFWP) can now entry an inventory of areas the place LMIAs won’t be processed.

On August 26, 2024, the federal authorities introduced that it might not course of LMIAs below the low-wage stream of the TFWP in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment fee of 6% or greater.

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With out an LMIA, employers can’t rent a overseas nationwide below the TFWP, nor can a TFWP employee renew their work allow.

As of January 10, the federal government has shared an inventory of CMAs with unemployment charges over 6%.

This desk will probably be up to date each three months, with the subsequent replace approaching April four, 2025.

Right here’s what it’s essential to know:

Which CMAs are ineligible as of January 2025?

As of January 10, the federal government has recognized 15 CMAs with unemployment charges 6% or greater.

The federal government will replace the listing of CMAs each three months, with the subsequent replace approaching April four, 2025.

How do I do know if a piece location is in a CMA?

To find out whether or not your job falls into considered one of these CMAs,

• Enter the entire postal code of the work location at Census of Inhabitants; and
• Below the Geography search outcomes web page, search for “Census metropolitan space/ Census agglomeration.”

The net web page will present which CMA your job is in, and you may see whether or not that CMA is on the listing.

What’s the low-wage stream of the TFWP?

Canada’s TFWP permits employers to rent eligible overseas employees to fill labour shortages within the nation.

The stream below which an employer should apply for a LMIA relies on the wage provided.

If the place’s wage is at or above the provincial or territorial wage threshold, the employer can fill this place below the high-wage stream of the TFWP.

If the wage is beneath the provincial or territorial wage threshold, the employer should fill the place below the low-wage stream of the TFWP.

As of November eight, 2024, the hourly wage for employees coming into Canada by way of the high-wage stream was elevated to 20% greater than the median wage within the relevant province or territory of labor, or equal to or larger than what others employees (with the identical place and expertise) for a similar employer earn—whichever is greater. If the wage falls below this threshold, the employer should apply below the low-wage stream of the TFWP.

Wage thresholds by province or territory could be seen right here.

What can I do if the place is in a CMA with an unemployment fee above 6%?

Each employers and staff ought to examine the unemployment fee of the CMA the place the job place is situated earlier than submitting an LMIA software. It will assist them discover out whether or not the appliance will probably be processed or not.

If an employer needs to rent a overseas employee below the TFWP in a CMA with an unemployment fee of 6% or greater, the employer has the choice of accelerating the wage of the place in order that it might fall below the high-wage stream.

Staff with a job provide below the low-wage stream inside a CMA with an unemployment fee of 6% or greater can ask if their employers are prepared to attend three months and see if there’s any change to the CMA unemployment charges earlier than making use of for an LMIA.

These nonetheless looking for an acceptable job below the low-wage steam of the TFWP can focus their job hunt on a CMA the place LMIAs are nonetheless being processed.

These at present on a low-wage TFWP work allow who lose standing as a result of their allow can’t be prolonged should cease working. A employee who loses work standing can apply for a customer file to stay in Canada as a customer, if they want.

What CMAs had been on the listing prior to now?

Some CMAs had unemployment charges of 6% or greater between October 11 and January 9, however are not on the listing as of January 10. These embrace

• Trois-Rivières, Quebec (5.2);
• Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec (5.four);
• Kingston, Ontario (5.7);
• Brantford, Ontario (four.2);
• Winnipeg, Manitoba (5.6);
• Abbotsford-Mission, British Columbia (5.four); and
• Vancouver, British Columbia (5.9).

What’s a CMA?

A CMA is a area fashioned by a number of adjoining municipalities round a core inhabitants heart.

A CMA should have a inhabitants of a minimum of 100,000, with a minimum of 50,000 residing within the core, primarily based on adjusted information from the newest Census of Inhabitants Program.

Municipalities included in a CMA should reveal a excessive diploma of financial and social integration with the core, as measured by commuting patterns.

As soon as an space is designated as a CMA, it retains this standing even when its inhabitants falls beneath the inhabitants threshold.

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