A Canadian employer is required to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) done before hiring any overseas employee.

An LMIA is a government authorization required to hire foreign workers in Canada for specific jobs.

What is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?

An LMIA is a document issued to a Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker for an opening in Canada that cannot be filled by a local Canadian worker or a permanent resident in Canada.

Assessment of job offer conducted by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

The ESDC conducts an assessment of the employment offer made to the foreign national to ensure that it does not have any negative impact on the Canadian job market.

The employer needs to provide detailed information of the following:

• Number of Canadians who applied for the job
• The number of Canadians who were interviewed for the position
• Reasons why the Canadian workers who were interviewed were not hired

During assessment, the ESDC focuses on the following parameters.

• Foreign worker salary offered
• Labour disputes within the company
• Labour shortage for that particular job in the region

. . . And many others

Positive LMIA

• If the employer receives a confirmation or letter of approval from the ESDC, it is said to be a positive LMIA.
• A positive LMIA confirms the need for a foreign worker for a particular job.
• Once a positive LMIA is received, the employer can ask the candidate to apply for a work permit.

Negative LMIA

The ESDC issues a negative LMIA if the employer is unable to fulfill the requirements of the LMIA program.

Under the new LMIA rules in Canada, the job positions are divided as follows:

• Low-wage positions
• High-wage positions

Applying for an LMIA can be complicated, time-consuming, and perplexing. If you require help in applying for an LMIA, ThinkBiz Immigration Inc. is there to assist you. We have been helping clients (employers) apply for LMIA with ease and complete peace of mind.

For more information about the LMIA program or to get a positive LMIA to bring a foreign worker to Canada, get in touch with our immigration experts today.