The new unemployment rate with respect to Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) was posted on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) website on January 10, 2025.
This update is especially significant to employers and foreign workers because it changes the LMIA processing for approvals under low wages.
Since September 26, 2024, and until further notice, LMIA applications are not processed if the following conditions are met:
The average unemployment rate of the CMA where the work is to be performed is 6% or above at the time of LMIA application filing.
The wage provided for the position(s) applied is below the wage set by the respective provincial or territorial government.
Seven CMAs are now qualified in this most recent update as all of them have unemployment rates below 6% compared to the previous one.
This change offers a fresh chance for employers in these areas to acquire foreign employees under the TFWP.
What Is a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)?
A Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) covers one or more municipal underlying areas with a population centre density having a minimum population of 100000.
While undertaking a CMA, many a time than one city and many-towns area is considered. For instance, Windsor CMA includes Windsor, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Tecumseh and Amherstburg.
The archive below presents latest unemployment rates for all CMAs as on 10th January 2025, and comparison with preceding periods.
New Unemployment Rates For Canada CMAs Effective January 10, 2025
Based on the new list, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Winnipeg, Brantford, Kingston, Ottawa-Gatineau and Trois Rivières have unemployment rates of less than 6 percent.
Whereas Saint John, Guelph and Barrie are now restricted until April 3, 2025.
Census Metropolitan Area
Unemployment Rate (%) for Applications Submitted from Jan 10 to Apr 3, 2025
Unemployment Rate (%) for Applications Submitted from Oct 11, 2024, to Jan 9, 2025
Unemployment Rate (%) for Applications Submitted from Sep 26 to Oct 10, 2024
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
6.0
6.6
7.2
Halifax, Nova Scotia
4.6
5.7
6.1
Moncton, New Brunswick
5.4
5.2
5.8
Saint John, New Brunswick
6.1
5.7
6.8
Saguenay, Quebec
3.2
3.4
3.6
Québec, Quebec
4.1
4.2
3.9
Sherbrooke, Quebec
4.1
5.6
5.3
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
5.2
6.7
6.5
Montréal, Quebec
6.2
6.8
7.3
Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec
5.4
6.9
7.1
Kingston, Ontario
5.7
6.9
6.6
Belleville, Ontario
3.6
5.9
N/A
Peterborough, Ontario
4.5
5.2
5.6
Oshawa, Ontario
7.5
8.5
8.5
Toronto, Ontario
7.9
8.6
8.6
Hamilton, Ontario
6.3
6.7
7.4
St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario
6.2
6.9
7.5
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario
7.3
8.0
7.6
Brantford, Ontario
4.2
6.4
6.3
Guelph, Ontario
6.2
5.9
5.3
London, Ontario
6.4
7.4
7.5
Windsor, Ontario
8.8
9.7
9.8
Barrie, Ontario
6.0
5.7
6.2
Greater Sudbury, Ontario
4.7
5.6
6.2
Thunder Bay, Ontario
4.9
4.4
3.8
Winnipeg, Manitoba
5.6
6.6
6.3
Regina, Saskatchewan
6.1
6.7
6.8
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
4.3
5.6
5.5
Lethbridge, Alberta
4.9
5.2
5.1
Calgary, Alberta
7.5
7.5
7.6
Edmonton, Alberta
6.8
8.7
8.5
Kelowna, British Columbia
5.3
4.9
5.2
Abbotsford-Mission, British Columbia
5.4
6.5
6.7
Vancouver, British Columbia
5.9
6.5
6.2
Victoria, British Columbia
3.1
3.9
3.5
Key Changes Introduced in 2024
The Canadian government unveiled various amendments to the TFWP that came into force September 26, 2024 to tackle high unemployment levels in certain areas. Key updates include:
1. LMIA Refusals in High-Unemployment Areas
LMIAs in the low-wage stream are now refused for CMAs with unemployment of 6% or higher.
Exceptions apply to positions in critical sectors such as:
Primary agriculture
Food processing
Fish processing
Construction
Healthcare
2. 10% Cap on Foreign Workers
Employers are now limited to hiring no more than 10% of their workforce through the TFWP, down from the previous 20% cap.
Critical sectors mentioned above have a 20% cap.
3. Reduced Employment Duration
The maximum period of employment in low wage categories has been lowered to one year contrary to the former two years.
Companies operating in CMAs with unemployment below 6% get a better chance to attract talent through the TFWP.
In the same way, those foreign contractors, onsite workers or any worker in search of work can focus on these areas as it will be easier for them to be granted a work permit.
These unemployment rates are the following Canadian CMAs for January 10, 2025, present an important role for the landscape under the TFWP.
Both employers and foreign workers should therefore ensure that they are abreast with these changes with a view of find it easier to deal with the program.
The government plans to do so through constant surveillance of regional economic conditions while ensuring that Canadians are provided with the necessary job places.
New Canada CMAs Unemployment Rates For LMIA Starting From January 2025
The new unemployment rate with respect to Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) was posted on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) website on January 10, 2025.
This update is especially significant to employers and foreign workers because it changes the LMIA processing for approvals under low wages.
Since September 26, 2024, and until further notice, LMIA applications are not processed if the following conditions are met:
The average unemployment rate of the CMA where the work is to be performed is 6% or above at the time of LMIA application filing.
The wage provided for the position(s) applied is below the wage set by the respective provincial or territorial government.
Seven CMAs are now qualified in this most recent update as all of them have unemployment rates below 6% compared to the previous one.
This change offers a fresh chance for employers in these areas to acquire foreign employees under the TFWP.
What Is a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)?
A Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) covers one or more municipal underlying areas with a population centre density having a minimum population of 100000.
While undertaking a CMA, many a time than one city and many-towns area is considered. For instance, Windsor CMA includes Windsor, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Tecumseh and Amherstburg.
The archive below presents latest unemployment rates for all CMAs as on 10th January 2025, and comparison with preceding periods.
New Unemployment Rates For Canada CMAs Effective January 10, 2025
Based on the new list, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Winnipeg, Brantford, Kingston, Ottawa-Gatineau and Trois Rivières have unemployment rates of less than 6 percent.
Whereas Saint John, Guelph and Barrie are now restricted until April 3, 2025.
Key Changes Introduced in 2024
The Canadian government unveiled various amendments to the TFWP that came into force September 26, 2024 to tackle high unemployment levels in certain areas. Key updates include:
1. LMIA Refusals in High-Unemployment Areas
LMIAs in the low-wage stream are now refused for CMAs with unemployment of 6% or higher.
Exceptions apply to positions in critical sectors such as:
Primary agriculture
Food processing
Fish processing
Construction
Healthcare
2. 10% Cap on Foreign Workers
Employers are now limited to hiring no more than 10% of their workforce through the TFWP, down from the previous 20% cap.
Critical sectors mentioned above have a 20% cap.
3. Reduced Employment Duration
The maximum period of employment in low wage categories has been lowered to one year contrary to the former two years.
Companies operating in CMAs with unemployment below 6% get a better chance to attract talent through the TFWP.
In the same way, those foreign contractors, onsite workers or any worker in search of work can focus on these areas as it will be easier for them to be granted a work permit.
These unemployment rates are the following Canadian CMAs for January 10, 2025, present an important role for the landscape under the TFWP.
Both employers and foreign workers should therefore ensure that they are abreast with these changes with a view of find it easier to deal with the program.
The government plans to do so through constant surveillance of regional economic conditions while ensuring that Canadians are provided with the necessary job places.
Author: Sam Gill
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