Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a requirement for Canadian employers wishing to hire foreign workers, proving that there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents available for the position. Lev Law assists employers in preparing LMIA applications to ensure compliance with recruitment, wage, and labor market standards. A positive LMIA indicates that hiring a foreign worker will have a neutral or positive impact on the Canadian labor market.

The LMIA process involves demonstrating that efforts were made to recruit Canadians, offering competitive wages, and meeting provincial labor standards. Essential elements of an LMIA application include:

• Recruitment efforts to hire Canadian citizens or residents.
• The position's wage alignment with regional industry standards.
• Compliance with provincial labor standards.
• Potential benefits to the labor market, such as job creation or knowledge transfer.
• Development of transition plans to promote long-term hiring of Canadian workers.

LMIA applications are processed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and involve an application fee of $1,000 per position. Depending on the role and demand, some LMIA applications qualify for expedited processing, with certain high-demand occupations processed in 10 days.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program introduced recent updates to address labor shortages. Key changes include extending LMIA validity to 18 months and allowing certain industries to increase hiring quotas for temporary foreign workers. Lev Law stays current on all LMIA policy updates to advise employers on program compliance and hiring strategies.