Canadian employers increased temporary foreign worker recruitment despite high unemployment rates

In 2023, Canadian companies ramped up temporary foreign worker recruitment despite a surge in unemployment. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program saw a record high of over 81,000 roles filled in Q4 2023, following its 2022 revision. Around 240,000 job vacancies were filled throughout the year, marking a 7.5% increase from 2022 and doubling the number from 2018. As a result of this growing reliance on foreign labour, the government is tightening regulations. The government has set a goal to limit the number of temporary residents to no more than 5% of the total population within the next three years.