Rising Demand for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canadian Industries

Jul 22, 2024 / 2 min readspscanadaahd

Growing Need for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

Canadian government data clearly shows a sharp rise in the approval of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs). According to recent figures, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) reports that employer approvals to hire TFWs have more than doubled over the past five years.

In 2023 alone, employers received approval to hire 239,646 TFWs. By comparison, only 108,988 approvals were granted in 2018. As a result, Canada’s reliance on temporary foreign labour has increased significantly.

More Employers Are Seeking TFWs

Since 2016, approvals for TFWs have risen steadily. Although approvals dipped briefly during the pandemic in 2020, the overall trend has remained upward. In fact, approvals have nearly tripled from around 90,000 in 2016 to almost 240,000 in 2023.

However, it is important to note that approval does not always lead to hiring. Some employers may receive approval but choose not to proceed. Even so, the data strongly indicates growing demand for foreign workers to fill labour shortages.

Increase in Temporary Foreign Worker Approvals (2016–2023)

The number of approved TFW positions has grown consistently:

  • 2016: 90,314
  • 2017: 98,146
  • 2018: 108,988
  • 2019: 130,457
  • 2020: 125,279
  • 2021: 133,196
  • 2022: 222,847
  • 2023: 239,646

Overall, this trend highlights how employers increasingly rely on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Industries with the Highest Growth in TFW Approvals

Additionally, new data reveals that several industries experienced dramatic growth in TFW approvals between 2018 and 2023. Most notably, the following occupations recorded the highest percentage increases:

Healthcare Support Roles

  • Nurse Aides, Orderlies, Patient Service Associates (NOC 33102)
    • 2018: 16 → 2023: 2,514
    • Increase: 15,613%

Food and Hospitality

  • Food Counter Attendants & Kitchen Helpers (NOC 65201)
    • 2018: 170 → 2023: 8,333
    • Increase: 4,802%
  • Food Service Supervisors (NOC 62020)
    • 2018: 2,358 → 2023: 10,409
    • Increase: 341%
  • Cooks (NOC 63200)
    • 2018: 3,162 → 2023: 11,977
    • Increase: 279%

Construction and Cleaning

  • Construction Trades Helpers & Labourers (NOC 75110)
    • Increase: 3,955%
  • Light Duty Cleaners (NOC 65310)
    • Increase: 1,414%

Administration, Retail, and Transport

  • Administrative Assistants (NOC 13110) – Increase: 1,063%
  • Retail Sales Supervisors (NOC 62010) – Increase: 426%
  • Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 73300) – Increase: 361%

Clearly, low-wage and essential service sectors dominate TFW growth.

Why Is This Increase Happening?

One key reason is Canada’s growing temporary resident population. Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that temporary residents made up 6.2% of Canada’s population in 2023, or nearly 2.5 million people.

In contrast, Statistics Canada reported that non-permanent residents accounted for only 2.5% of the population in the 2021 Census. Therefore, employer reliance on temporary workers has grown rapidly in a short period.

Simply put, many employers—especially in low-wage and high-turnover roles—struggle to find local workers. Consequently, the government expanded access to the TFWP to keep businesses running and critical services staffed.

What This Means Going Forward

Overall, the sharp rise in TFW approvals highlights Canada’s growing dependence on temporary foreign labour. As policies continue to evolve, understanding these trends becomes essential for both employers and foreign workers.

For expert guidance, employers and applicants can benefit from professional support. SPS Canada Immigration helps clients stay informed, navigate changing policies, and make confident immigration decisions in a complex and shifting landscape.

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