Fresh IRCC statistics analysed by Immigration.ca reveal that monthly arrivals of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and International Mobility Program (IMP) participants have dropped by more than half over the past two years. In January 2024, Canada admitted 6,525 TFWP workers; by January 2026 that figure had fallen to 2,675. IMP arrivals plunged from 26,620 to 9,175 over the same period—a decline of about 65 percent. Several forces are at play. Ottawa tightened LMIA advertising rules in late 2024, capped low-wage TFW positions in high-unemployment regions and introduced higher employer-compliance fees. Simultaneously, provinces expanded permanent-residence allocations, encouraging businesses to recruit through PNPs rather than cyclical work permits.
![Federal Data Show Canada Has Halved New Temporary Worker Arrivals Since 2024]()
At this juncture, many employers are turning to specialist service providers for guidance. VisaHQ, through its dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), helps companies and individuals decipher the evolving LMIA, IMP and PR pathways, assembles the correct documentation and monitors government queues in real time—freeing HR teams to focus on recruitment rather than red tape.
The federal government is also under pressure to ease housing demand and protect wages ahead of the 2027 election. For employers in agriculture, food services and hospitality, the numbers are sobering. Peak-season TFW arrivals in spring 2024 exceeded 10,000 per month; projections for spring 2026 barely reach 4,000. Industry groups warn that crops could rot and restaurant operating hours may shrink without rapid LMIA processing or targeted exemptions. The data shift labour-mobility dynamics for global companies. Multinationals accustomed to rotating staff into Canada on short-term assignments must increasingly pivot to intra-company transferee (ICT) permits, Francophone mobility exemptions or direct permanent-residence options. Compliance teams should audit assignment planning calendars now to avoid last-minute project delays. On the upside, reduced temporary inflows may relieve pressure on rental markets in Vancouver and Toronto and could help meet Ottawa’s target of holding net-temporary resident growth to under 50,000 in 2027. But the immediate reality for HR managers is clear: plan farther ahead, expect longer lead times for low-skill positions, and consider offering relocation bonuses to retain existing foreign workers.
At this juncture, many employers are turning to specialist service providers for guidance. VisaHQ, through its dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), helps companies and individuals decipher the evolving LMIA, IMP and PR pathways, assembles the correct documentation and monitors government queues in real time—freeing HR teams to focus on recruitment rather than red tape.
The federal government is also under pressure to ease housing demand and protect wages ahead of the 2027 election. For employers in agriculture, food services and hospitality, the numbers are sobering. Peak-season TFW arrivals in spring 2024 exceeded 10,000 per month; projections for spring 2026 barely reach 4,000. Industry groups warn that crops could rot and restaurant operating hours may shrink without rapid LMIA processing or targeted exemptions. The data shift labour-mobility dynamics for global companies. Multinationals accustomed to rotating staff into Canada on short-term assignments must increasingly pivot to intra-company transferee (ICT) permits, Francophone mobility exemptions or direct permanent-residence options. Compliance teams should audit assignment planning calendars now to avoid last-minute project delays. On the upside, reduced temporary inflows may relieve pressure on rental markets in Vancouver and Toronto and could help meet Ottawa’s target of holding net-temporary resident growth to under 50,000 in 2027. But the immediate reality for HR managers is clear: plan farther ahead, expect longer lead times for low-skill positions, and consider offering relocation bonuses to retain existing foreign workers.
