2020-02-17 – Processing times for Labour Market Impact Assessments are down in some categories but up in others, according to the latest figures from Canada’s federal government.
Three out of seven Temporary Foreign Worker Program categories are showing reduced average processing times in January 2020, compared to June 2019, according to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Processing times are down for the Agricultural Stream, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the High-wage Stream.
Meanwhile, the four categories to show increased processing times are the Global Talent Stream, the Permanent Residence Stream, In-home Caregivers and the Low-wage Stream.
Labour Market Impact Assessment Average Processing Times
Application type | Processing Time June 2019 (business days) | Processing Time January 2020 (business days) |
Global Talent Stream | 10 | 12 |
Agricultural Stream | 36 | 23 |
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 20 | 10 |
Permanent Residence Stream | 39 | 49 |
In-home Caregivers | 20 | 25 |
High-wage Stream | 95 | 80 |
Low-wage Stream | 102 | 108 |
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada
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Of particular concern for Ottawa will be the increased Global Talent Stream processing time, from 10 to 12 business days.
The GTS is the federal government’s flagship work permit program, providing employers with the benefit of bringing in the best foreign workers in the highest demand occupations with 10 business day processing.
Officials will not want to see the average processing time rise much high than 12 days.
ESDC blames the increased processing times on the high number of applications being submitted, due to the increased demand for Canada work permits through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Work permit holders continue to be a healthy source of new permanent residents in Canada.
Between January and October 2019, a total of 55,110 new permanent residents were admitted who previously held work permits through the International Mobility Program or the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The same figure for the whole of 2018 was 56,365.