LMIA
LMIA (Labour Market Impact assessment)
As businesses grow and evolve, they often need to tap into the global talent pool to fill key positions. Whether expanding your team or facing labor shortages in Canada, hiring foreign workers can provide the skills and expertise your business needs to flourish. One of the most critical steps in this process is obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) document, a requirement for most employers before bringing a foreign worker into Canada.
Essentially, it proves that hiring a foreign worker will have a positive or neutral impact on the Canadian labor market. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) assesses each LMIA application to ensure that:
Here’s what you need to know about the LMIA process and how it can help you access the talent your business needs:
- There is no qualified Canadian or permanent resident available to do the job
- Hiring a foreign worker won’t negatively affect the job market, wages, or working conditions in Canada
Without an approved LMIA, most foreign workers won’t be able to obtain a work permit to work legally in Canada.
Benefits of hiring a foreign worker
- Fill key skills gaps: Foreign workers can bring unique skills and perspectives that aren’t readily available in the Canadian workforce.
- Expand your market: A diverse workforce can help you connect with new markets and customers both locally and internationally.
- Boost productivity: By filling labor shortages, you can avoid disruptions to your operations and ensure your business runs smoothly.
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What you need to know before getting started
- The LMIA is an employer application to Employment and Social Development Canada to hire foreign workers
- After receiving the LMIA you can hire through one of the common methods i.e., the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to fill labor and skill shortages
- You will be required to work on your recruitment efforts, business legitimacy, and wage determination among other things
- The average processing time can vary between 10 – 50 days approximately
- Employers interested in hiring foreign talent should begin by choosing the appropriate NOC occupation. The NOC classification plays a crucial role in determining the prevailing wage and influencing ESDC’s assessment of local job opportunities, which ultimately impacts the outcome of your LMIA application