ESDC redefined the split between the Low-Wage and High-Wage streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program on 30 April 2024 to use a 20%-above-median-wage cutoff by region, and applied successive further restrictions through late 2024 and into 2025 — including refusing low-wage LMIAs in regions with unemployment above 6%.
Employers hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers; prospective applicants in affected regions.
Primary: Employment and Social Development Canada ↗
Corroborating: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗
Verified 2026-04-21 · methodology · report a correction