These are the regions in Canada where low-wage LMIAs won’t be processed, as of January 2025

Those considering applying for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) can now access a list of regions where LMIAs will not be processed.

On August 26, 2024, the federal government announced that it would no longer process LMIAs under the low-wage stream of the TFWP in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.

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Without an LMIA, employers cannot hire a foreign national under the TFWP, nor can a TFWP worker renew their work permit.

As of January 10, the government has shared a list of CMAs with unemployment rates over 6%.

This table will be updated every three months, with the next update coming on April 4, 2025.

Here’s what you need to know:

Which CMAs are ineligible as of January 2025?

As of January 10, the government has identified 15 CMAs with unemployment rates 6% or higher.

Census metropolitan area (CMA)	Unemployment rate
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador	6%
Saint John, New Brunswick	6.1%
Montréal, Quebec	6.2%
Oshawa, Ontario	7.5%
Toronto, Ontario	7.9%
Hamilton, Ontario	6.3%
St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario	6.2%
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario	7.3%
Guelph, Ontario	6.2%
London, Ontario	6.4%
Windsor, Ontario	8.8%
Barrie, Ontario	6%
Regina, Saskatchewan	6.1%
Calgary, Alberta	7.5%
Edmonton, Alberta	6.8%

The government will update the list of CMAs every three months, with the next update coming on April 4, 2025.

How do I know if a work location is in a CMA?

To determine whether your job falls into one of these CMAs,

• Enter the complete postal code of the work location at Census of Population; and
• Under the Geography search results page, look for “Census metropolitan area/ Census agglomeration.”

The web page will show which CMA your job is in, and you can see whether that CMA is on the list.

What is the low-wage stream of the TFWP?

Canada’s TFWP allows employers to hire eligible foreign workers to fill labour shortages in the country.

The stream under which an employer must apply for a LMIA depends on the wage offered.

If the position's wage is at or above the provincial or territorial wage threshold, the employer can fill this position under the high-wage stream of the TFWP.

If the wage is below the provincial or territorial wage threshold, the employer must fill the position under the low-wage stream of the TFWP.

As of November 8, 2024, the hourly wage for workers coming into Canada through the high-wage stream was increased to 20% higher than the median wage in the applicable province or territory of work, or equal to or greater than what others workers (with the same position and experience) for the same employer earn—whichever is higher. If the wage falls under this threshold, the employer must apply under the low-wage stream of the TFWP.

Wage thresholds by province or territory can be viewed here.

What can I do if the position is in a CMA with an unemployment rate above 6%?

Both employers and employees should check the unemployment rate of the CMA where the job position is located before submitting an LMIA application. This will help them find out whether the application will be processed or not.

If an employer wishes to hire a foreign worker under the TFWP in a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, the employer has the option of increasing the wage of the position so that it would fall under the high-wage stream.

Employees with a job offer under the low-wage stream within a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher can ask if their employers are willing to wait three months and see if there is any change to the CMA unemployment rates before applying for an LMIA.

Those still searching for a suitable job under the low-wage steam of the TFWP can focus their job hunt on a CMA where LMIAs are still being processed.

Those currently on a low-wage TFWP work permit who lose status because their permit cannot be extended must stop working. A worker who loses work status can apply for a visitor record to remain in Canada as a visitor, if they wish.

What CMAs were on the list in the past?

Some CMAs had unemployment rates of 6% or higher between October 11 and January 9, but are no longer on the list as of January 10. These include

• Trois-Rivières, Quebec (5.2);
• Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec (5.4);
• Kingston, Ontario (5.7);
• Brantford, Ontario (4.2);
• Winnipeg, Manitoba (5.6);
• Abbotsford-Mission, British Columbia (5.4); and
• Vancouver, British Columbia (5.9).

What is a CMA?

A CMA is a region formed by one or more adjacent municipalities around a core population center.

A CMA must have a population of at least 100,000, with at least 50,000 residing in the core, based on adjusted data from the most recent Census of Population Program.

Municipalities included in a CMA must demonstrate a high degree of economic and social integration with the core, as measured by commuting patterns.

Once an area is designated as a CMA, it retains this status even if its population falls below the population threshold.

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