Economic and Social Reports
Foreign workers in Canada: Labour force attachment among temporary residents with paid employment in 2019

Temporary residents constitute an important supply of labour for the Canadian economy. However, some of them do not work in a given year, even when holding a valid work permit (Lu & Hou, 2023a, 2023b). Of those who are employed, some work part time or part year because of program restrictions, permit length or other reasons. As a result, a simple headcount of employed temporary residents overestimates their impact on the labour force and their contribution to the Canadian economy.

Using linkable administrative data files, this article estimates the share of temporary residents who had paid employment but were “weakly attached” to the Canadian labour market in 2019.^Note Ideally, the number of hours worked would provide the basis for an attachment designation. However, such information is not available in the data source. Consequently, this article defines “weak” labour market attachment based on annual earnings being equal to or less than various thresholds. As a starting point, annual earnings of $7,500 would be comparable to working five hours per week, or roughly 250 hours per year, at the Canadian average wage of $30 per hour. Since many temporary residents work in low-wage jobs (Lu & Hou, 2023c), one can alternatively consider the $7,500 cut-off as working for 500 hours per year at $15 per hour. In the employment insurance (EI) system, between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period (typically one year) are usually required to qualify for regular EI benefits (Government Canada). As a form of sensitivity analysis, lower thresholds are also assessed, notably $2,000 and $5,000.

Differences in weak attachment by temporary resident type

In 2019, among temporary residents who had paid employment, including work permit holders in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP), study permit holders, and other temporary residents, 27.5% were weakly attached to the labour market based on the $7,500 annual earnings cut-off (Chart 1 and Table 1). This is more than twice the share of all Canadian-born and immigrant workers (13.0%)—hereafter referred to as Canadian workers. However, there was significant variation by temporary resident program. One in 10 TFWP workers was weakly attached to the Canadian labour market. In contrast, 22.0% of IMP workers, 54.9% of those with study permits and 23.3% of those with other status were weakly attached.

Data table for Chart 1



Data table for Chart 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 1. The information is grouped by Annual T4 earnings (2019 dollars) (appearing as row headers), TFWP participants , IMP participants , Study permit holders , Other temporary residents , All temporary residents and Canadian-born and immigrants , calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).

Annual T4 earnings (2019 dollars)	TFWP participants	IMP participants	Study permit holders	Other temporary residents	All temporary residents	Canadian-born and immigrants
	percent
0	0.0	0.1	0.4	1.3	0.2	0.2
100	0.1	0.6	1.8	3.0	0.9	0.6
200	0.1	1.0	3.0	4.1	1.4	0.9
300	0.2	1.3	4.2	4.8	1.9	1.4
400	0.2	1.7	5.3	5.4	2.4	1.6
500	0.3	2.1	6.3	6.1	2.9	1.9
600	0.3	2.5	7.5	6.5	3.4	2.2
700	0.4	2.8	8.5	7.0	3.9	2.4
800	0.5	3.2	9.5	7.5	4.3	2.6
900	0.6	3.5	10.5	8.0	4.8	2.9
1,000	0.7	3.9	11.6	8.5	5.3	3.1
1,100	0.8	4.2	12.6	8.9	5.7	3.3
1,200	0.9	4.6	13.6	9.2	6.2	3.5
1,300	1.0	5.0	14.7	9.5	6.7	3.7
1,400	1.1	5.3	15.6	9.9	7.1	3.9
1,500	1.2	5.7	16.6	10.2	7.6	4.1
1,600	1.2	6.1	17.6	10.5	8.0	4.3
1,700	1.3	6.4	18.5	10.8	8.5	4.4
1,800	1.4	6.8	19.5	11.1	9.0	4.6
1,900	1.5	7.1	20.5	11.5	9.4	4.8
2,000	1.6	7.5	21.4	11.8	9.8	4.9
2,100	1.8	7.8	22.3	12.1	10.3	5.1
2,200	1.9	8.2	23.3	12.4	10.7	5.3
2,300	2.0	8.5	24.2	12.7	11.1	5.4
2,400	2.2	8.8	25.1	12.9	11.5	5.6
2,500	2.3	9.1	26.0	13.2	12.0	5.8
2,600	2.4	9.4	26.8	13.4	12.4	5.9
2,700	2.5	9.8	27.7	13.6	12.8	6.1
2,800	2.6	10.1	28.6	13.9	13.2	6.2
2,900	2.7	10.4	29.4	14.1	13.6	6.4
3,000	2.8	10.7	30.2	14.4	14.0	6.5
3,100	2.9	11.0	31.0	14.6	14.3	6.7
3,200	3.0	11.3	31.8	14.8	14.7	6.8
3,300	3.2	11.6	32.6	15.0	15.1	7.0
3,400	3.3	11.9	33.3	15.2	15.5	7.1
3,500	3.5	12.2	34.1	15.5	15.9	7.4
3,600	3.6	12.5	34.8	15.7	16.2	7.6
3,700	3.8	12.8	35.5	16.0	16.6	7.7
3,800	3.9	13.1	36.2	16.2	16.9	7.9
3,900	4.1	13.3	36.8	16.4	17.2	8.0
4,000	4.3	13.6	37.5	16.7	17.6	8.2
4,100	4.4	13.9	38.2	16.9	17.9	8.3
4,200	4.6	14.1	38.8	17.0	18.3	8.5
4,300	4.7	14.4	39.4	17.2	18.6	8.6
4,400	4.9	14.7	40.0	17.4	18.9	8.8
4,500	5.1	14.9	40.7	17.6	19.2	8.9
4,600	5.3	15.2	41.2	17.8	19.6	9.0
4,700	5.5	15.5	41.8	18.0	19.9	9.2
4,800	5.7	15.7	42.3	18.3	20.2	9.3
4,900	5.9	16.0	42.9	18.4	20.5	9.5
5,000	6.1	16.2	43.5	18.7	20.8	9.6
5,100	6.2	16.5	44.0	18.9	21.1	9.8
5,200	6.4	16.7	44.5	19.1	21.4	9.9
5,300	6.5	16.9	45.1	19.3	21.7	10.1
5,400	6.7	17.2	45.6	19.5	22.0	10.2
5,500	6.8	17.4	46.1	19.7	22.2	10.3
5,600	7.0	17.7	46.6	19.9	22.5	10.5
5,700	7.1	17.9	47.1	20.1	22.8	10.6
5,800	7.3	18.2	47.6	20.3	23.1	10.7
5,900	7.5	18.4	48.1	20.5	23.4	10.9
6,000	7.6	18.6	48.6	20.7	23.7	11.1
6,100	7.8	18.9	49.0	20.9	23.9	11.2
6,200	7.9	19.1	49.5	21.1	24.2	11.3
6,300	8.1	19.4	49.9	21.3	24.5	11.5
6,400	8.3	19.6	50.3	21.4	24.7	11.6
6,500	8.4	19.8	50.7	21.6	25.0	11.7
6,600	8.6	20.0	51.2	21.8	25.3	11.9
6,700	8.8	20.3	51.7	22.0	25.6	12.0
6,800	8.9	20.5	52.2	22.2	25.8	12.1
6,900	9.1	20.7	52.6	22.3	26.1	12.2
7,000	9.2	21.0	53.0	22.5	26.3	12.4
7,100	9.4	21.2	53.4	22.7	26.6	12.5
7,200	9.6	21.4	53.8	22.9	26.9	12.7
7,300	9.8	21.7	54.2	23.1	27.1	12.8
7,400	9.9	21.9	54.6	23.2	27.4	12.9
7,500	10.0	22.0	54.9	23.3	27.5	13.0
7,600	10.3	22.4	55.5	23.5	27.9	13.2
7,700	10.5	22.6	55.9	23.7	28.2	13.3
7,800	10.6	22.8	56.2	23.8	28.4	13.4
7,900	10.8	23.0	56.6	24.0	28.7	13.6
8,000	11.0	23.3	57.1	24.2	28.9	13.7
8,100	11.2	23.5	57.4	24.4	29.2	13.8
8,200	11.4	23.7	57.8	24.5	29.4	14.0
8,300	11.5	23.9	58.2	24.7	29.7	14.1
8,400	11.7	24.2	58.6	24.9	29.9	14.2
8,500	11.9	24.4	59.0	25.0	30.2	14.3
8,600	12.0	24.6	59.3	25.2	30.4	14.5
8,700	12.2	24.8	59.7	25.3	30.7	14.6
8,800	12.4	25.1	60.1	25.4	30.9	14.7
8,900	12.5	25.3	60.4	25.6	31.1	14.8
9,000	12.7	25.5	60.8	25.7	31.4	15.0
9,100	12.9	25.7	61.2	25.9	31.6	15.1
9,200	13.1	26.0	61.5	26.0	31.9	15.2
9,300	13.3	26.2	61.9	26.1	32.1	15.3
9,400	13.4	26.4	62.2	26.3	32.4	15.5
9,500	13.6	26.6	62.6	26.5	32.6	15.6
9,600	13.8	26.8	62.9	26.6	32.8	15.7
9,700	13.9	27.1	63.3	26.7	33.1	15.8
9,800	14.1	27.3	63.6	26.9	33.3	16.0
9,900	14.3	27.5	64.0	27.0	33.6	16.1
10,000	14.5	27.8	64.4	27.3	33.8	16.3
10,100	14.7	28.0	64.7	27.4	34.1	16.4
10,200	14.9	28.2	65.1	27.5	34.3	16.5
10,300	15.1	28.4	65.5	27.7	34.6	16.6
10,400	15.2	28.6	65.8	27.8	34.8	16.8
10,500	15.4	28.8	66.2	28.0	35.0	16.9
10,600	15.6	29.1	66.5	28.1	35.3	17.0
10,700	15.8	29.3	66.9	28.2	35.5	17.1
10,800	16.0	29.5	67.2	28.4	35.8	17.3
10,900	16.2	29.7	67.6	28.5	36.0	17.4
11,000	16.4	29.9	67.9	28.6	36.2	17.5
11,100	16.6	30.2	68.2	28.7	36.5	17.6
11,200	16.8	30.4	68.6	28.9	36.7	17.8
11,300	17.0	30.6	68.9	29.0	37.0	17.9
11,400	17.2	30.8	69.3	29.1	37.2	18.0
11,500	17.4	31.0	69.6	29.3	37.4	18.1
11,600	17.7	31.2	70.0	29.4	37.7	18.2
11,700	17.9	31.4	70.3	29.6	37.9	18.4
11,800	18.1	31.7	70.6	29.8	38.2	18.5
11,900	18.3	31.9	70.9	29.9	38.4	18.6
12,000	18.6	32.1	71.3	30.2	38.7	18.8
12,100	18.8	32.3	71.6	30.3	38.9	19.0
12,200	19.0	32.5	71.9	30.4	39.1	19.1
12,300	19.2	32.8	72.2	30.5	39.4	19.2
12,400	19.4	33.0	72.5	30.6	39.6	19.3
12,500	19.7	33.2	72.8	30.8	39.8	19.4
12,600	19.9	33.4	73.1	31.0	40.0	19.6
12,700	20.1	33.6	73.4	31.1	40.3	19.7
12,800	20.3	33.8	73.7	31.3	40.5	19.8
12,900	20.5	34.0	74.0	31.4	40.7	19.9
13,000	20.7	34.2	74.2	31.5	40.9	20.1
13,100	20.9	34.4	74.5	31.7	41.1	20.2
13,200	21.1	34.6	74.8	31.8	41.4	20.3
13,300	21.3	34.8	75.1	32.0	41.6	20.4
13,400	21.6	35.0	75.5	32.1	41.8	20.5
13,500	21.8	35.3	75.8	32.2	42.1	20.6
13,600	22.0	35.5	76.1	32.4	42.3	20.8
13,700	22.3	35.7	76.4	32.5	42.5	20.9
13,800	22.5	35.9	76.7	32.6	42.8	21.0
13,900	22.7	36.1	77.0	32.7	43.0	21.1
14,000	23.0	36.3	77.3	32.9	43.2	21.2
14,100	23.2	36.5	77.6	33.0	43.5	21.3
14,200	23.5	36.7	77.9	33.1	43.7	21.4
14,300	23.7	36.9	78.2	33.3	43.9	21.5
14,400	24.0	37.2	78.5	33.4	44.1	21.7
14,500	24.2	37.4	78.7	33.6	44.4	21.8
14,600	24.5	37.6	79.0	33.7	44.6	21.9
14,700	24.7	37.8	79.3	33.8	44.8	22.0
14,800	24.9	38.0	79.5	33.9	45.0	22.1
14,900	25.2	38.2	79.8	34.0	45.3	22.2
15,000	25.4	38.4	80.1	34.2	45.5	22.4
15,100	25.7	38.6	80.4	34.3	45.7	22.5
15,200	25.9	38.8	80.6	34.5	45.9	22.6
15,300	26.2	39.0	80.9	34.6	46.2	22.7
15,400	26.4	39.2	81.2	34.7	46.4	22.8
15,500	26.7	39.4	81.4	34.8	46.6	23.0
15,600	27.0	39.6	81.7	35.0	46.8	23.1
15,700	27.2	39.8	81.9	35.1	47.0	23.2
15,800	27.5	40.0	82.2	35.2	47.3	23.3
15,900	27.8	40.2	82.4	35.4	47.5	23.4
16,000	28.1	40.4	82.7	35.5	47.7	23.5
16,100	28.3	40.6	82.9	35.6	47.9	23.6
16,200	28.6	40.8	83.2	35.8	48.1	23.7
16,300	28.9	41.0	83.4	35.9	48.3	23.8
16,400	29.1	41.2	83.6	36.0	48.6	23.9
16,500	29.4	41.4	83.9	36.2	48.8	24.1
16,600	29.7	41.6	84.1	36.3	49.0	24.2
16,700	29.9	41.8	84.3	36.4	49.2	24.3
16,800	30.2	42.0	84.6	36.5	49.4	24.4
16,900	30.4	42.2	84.8	36.6	49.6	24.5
17,000	30.7	42.4	85.0	36.7	49.8	24.6
17,100	31.0	42.6	85.2	36.8	50.0	24.7
17,200	31.2	42.8	85.4	37.0	50.2	24.8
17,300	31.5	43.0	85.7	37.0	50.4	24.9
17,400	31.9	43.2	85.9	37.2	50.7	25.0
17,500	32.2	43.4	86.1	37.3	50.9	25.1
17,600	32.5	43.6	86.3	37.4	51.1	25.2
17,700	32.8	43.8	86.5	37.6	51.3	25.3
17,800	33.1	44.0	86.7	37.7	51.5	25.4
17,900	33.4	44.2	86.9	37.8	51.7	25.5
18,000	33.7	44.4	87.1	38.0	51.9	25.7
18,100	34.0	44.6	87.3	38.2	52.1	25.8
18,200	34.3	44.8	87.5	38.3	52.3	25.9
18,300	34.5	45.0	87.7	38.4	52.5	26.0
18,400	34.8	45.2	87.9	38.5	52.7	26.1
18,500	35.1	45.4	88.1	38.7	52.9	26.2
18,600	35.4	45.5	88.2	38.8	53.1	26.3
18,700	35.6	45.7	88.4	38.9	53.3	26.4
18,800	35.9	45.9	88.6	39.1	53.5	26.5
18,900	36.2	46.1	88.8	39.2	53.7	26.6
19,000	36.5	46.3	88.9	39.3	53.9	26.7
19,100	36.8	46.5	89.1	39.4	54.1	26.8
19,200	37.0	46.7	89.3	39.6	54.3	26.9
19,300	37.3	46.9	89.5	39.7	54.5	27.0
19,400	37.5	47.1	89.7	39.8	54.7	27.1
19,500	37.8	47.3	89.8	39.9	54.9	27.2
19,600	38.1	47.5	90.0	40.0	55.1	27.3
19,700	38.4	47.6	90.1	40.1	55.3	27.4
19,800	38.6	47.8	90.3	40.3	55.5	27.5
19,900	38.9	48.0	90.4	40.4	55.7	27.6
20,000	39.2	48.3	90.6	40.5	55.9	27.8
20,100	39.5	48.4	90.7	40.7	56.1	27.9
20,200	39.8	48.6	90.9	40.8	56.3	28.0
20,300	40.1	48.8	91.0	40.9	56.5	28.1
20,400	40.3	49.0	91.2	41.1	56.7	28.2
20,500	40.6	49.2	91.3	41.2	56.8	28.4
20,600	40.9	49.4	91.4	41.3	57.0	28.5
20,700	41.2	49.6	91.6	41.4	57.2	28.6
20,800	41.5	49.8	91.7	41.6	57.4	28.7
20,900	41.7	50.0	91.9	41.7	57.6	28.8
21,000	42.0	50.2	92.0	41.8	57.8	28.9
21,100	42.3	50.4	92.1	42.0	58.0	29.0
21,200	42.6	50.5	92.2	42.1	58.2	29.1
21,300	42.9	50.7	92.4	42.2	58.3	29.2
21,400	43.1	50.9	92.5	42.3	58.5	29.3
21,500	43.4	51.1	92.6	42.4	58.7	29.4
21,600	43.7	51.3	92.7	42.5	58.9	29.5
21,700	43.9	51.5	92.8	42.6	59.1	29.6
21,800	44.3	51.7	93.0	42.7	59.3	29.7
21,900	44.6	51.8	93.1	42.8	59.4	29.8
22,000	44.9	52.0	93.2	43.0	59.6	29.9
22,100	45.2	52.2	93.3	43.1	59.8	30.0
22,200	45.5	52.4	93.4	43.2	60.0	30.1
22,300	45.8	52.6	93.5	43.3	60.2	30.2
22,400	46.0	52.8	93.6	43.4	60.3	30.3
22,500	46.3	52.9	93.7	43.5	60.5	30.4
22,600	46.6	53.1	93.8	43.7	60.7	30.5
22,700	46.9	53.3	93.9	43.8	60.9	30.6
22,800	47.2	53.5	94.0	43.9	61.0	30.7
22,900	47.4	53.7	94.1	44.0	61.2	30.8
23,000	47.7	53.8	94.2	44.1	61.4	30.9
23,100	48.0	54.0	94.3	44.2	61.6	31.0
23,200	48.3	54.2	94.4	44.3	61.7	31.1
23,300	48.6	54.4	94.5	44.4	61.9	31.2
23,400	48.9	54.5	94.6	44.5	62.1	31.3
23,500	49.2	54.7	94.7	44.7	62.2	31.4
23,600	49.5	54.9	94.7	44.8	62.4	31.5
23,700	49.8	55.1	94.8	44.9	62.6	31.6
23,800	50.1	55.2	94.9	45.0	62.7	31.7
23,900	50.4	55.4	95.0	45.1	62.9	31.8
24,000	50.7	55.6	95.1	45.4	63.1	32.0
24,100	51.0	55.8	95.1	45.6	63.3	32.1
24,200	51.3	56.0	95.2	45.7	63.4	32.2
24,300	51.6	56.1	95.3	45.8	63.6	32.3
24,400	51.9	56.3	95.3	45.9	63.8	32.4
24,500	52.2	56.5	95.4	46.0	63.9	32.5
24,600	52.5	56.7	95.5	46.1	64.1	32.6
24,700	52.8	56.8	95.6	46.2	64.3	32.7
24,800	53.1	57.0	95.6	46.3	64.4	32.8
24,900	53.3	57.2	95.7	46.4	64.6	32.9
25,000	53.7	57.4	95.8	46.6	64.8	33.1
25,100	53.9	57.6	95.8	46.7	64.9	33.2
25,200	54.3	57.7	95.9	46.8	65.1	33.3
25,300	54.5	57.9	95.9	46.9	65.3	33.4
25,400	54.8	58.1	96.0	47.0	65.4	33.5
25,500	55.1	58.2	96.1	47.1	65.6	33.6
25,600	55.4	58.4	96.1	47.3	65.8	33.7
25,700	55.7	58.6	96.2	47.4	65.9	33.8
25,800	56.0	58.8	96.2	47.5	66.1	33.9
25,900	56.3	58.9	96.3	47.6	66.2	34.0
26,000	56.5	59.1	96.3	47.7	66.4	34.1
26,100	56.8	59.3	96.4	47.8	66.6	34.2
26,200	57.1	59.5	96.4	47.9	66.7	34.3
26,300	57.3	59.6	96.5	48.1	66.9	34.4
26,400	57.6	59.8	96.5	48.2	67.0	34.5
26,500	57.9	60.0	96.6	48.4	67.2	34.6
26,600	58.2	60.1	96.6	48.5	67.3	34.7
26,700	58.4	60.3	96.7	48.6	67.5	34.8
26,800	58.7	60.5	96.7	48.7	67.6	34.9
26,900	59.0	60.6	96.8	48.8	67.8	35.0
27,000	59.3	60.8	96.8	48.9	68.0	35.1
27,100	59.6	61.0	96.8	49.0	68.1	35.2
27,200	59.8	61.2	96.9	49.1	68.3	35.3
27,300	60.1	61.3	96.9	49.2	68.4	35.4
27,400	60.4	61.5	97.0	49.3	68.6	35.5
27,500	60.6	61.7	97.0	49.4	68.7	35.6
27,600	60.9	61.8	97.0	49.5	68.9	35.7
27,700	61.2	62.0	97.1	49.6	69.0	35.8
27,800	61.5	62.2	97.1	49.7	69.2	35.9
27,900	61.7	62.3	97.1	49.8	69.3	36.1
28,000	62.0	62.5	97.2	49.9	69.5	36.2
28,100	62.3	62.6	97.2	50.1	69.6	36.3
28,200	62.5	62.8	97.2	50.2	69.8	36.4
28,300	62.8	63.0	97.3	50.3	69.9	36.5
28,400	63.0	63.1	97.3	50.4	70.0	36.6
28,500	63.2	63.3	97.3	50.5	70.2	36.7
28,600	63.5	63.5	97.4	50.6	70.3	36.8
28,700	63.7	63.6	97.4	50.7	70.5	36.9
28,800	64.0	63.8	97.4	50.8	70.6	37.0
28,900	64.2	63.9	97.5	50.9	70.8	37.1
29,000	64.5	64.1	97.5	51.0	70.9	37.2
29,100	65.0	64.3	97.5	51.1	71.1	37.3
29,200	65.3	64.4	97.6	51.2	71.2	37.4
29,300	65.5	64.6	97.6	51.3	71.4	37.5
29,400	65.7	64.8	97.6	51.4	71.5	37.6
29,500	66.0	64.9	97.7	51.5	71.7	37.7
29,600	66.2	65.1	97.7	51.6	71.8	37.8
29,700	66.5	65.2	97.7	51.7	71.9	37.9
29,800	66.7	65.4	97.7	51.8	72.1	38.0
29,900	66.9	65.6	97.8	51.9	72.2	38.1
30,000	67.1	65.8	97.8	52.2	72.4	38.4
30,100	67.3	65.9	97.8	52.3	72.5	38.5
30,200	67.6	66.1	97.9	52.4	72.7	38.6
30,300	67.8	66.2	97.9	52.5	72.8	38.7
30,400	68.1	66.4	97.9	52.6	72.9	38.8
30,500	68.3	66.6	97.9	52.7	73.1	38.9
30,600	68.5	66.7	98.0	52.9	73.2	39.0
30,700	68.7	66.9	98.0	53.0	73.3	39.1
30,800	68.9	67.0	98.0	53.1	73.5	39.2
30,900	69.1	67.2	98.0	53.2	73.6	39.3
31,000	69.3	67.3	98.1	53.3	73.7	39.4
31,100	69.5	67.5	98.1	53.4	73.9	39.5
31,200	69.8	67.6	98.1	53.6	74.0	39.7
31,300	70.0	67.8	98.1	53.7	74.1	39.8
31,400	70.2	67.9	98.1	53.8	74.3	39.9
31,500	70.4	68.1	98.2	53.9	74.4	40.0
31,600	70.5	68.2	98.2	54.0	74.5	40.1
31,700	70.7	68.4	98.2	54.1	74.7	40.2
31,800	70.9	68.6	98.2	54.2	74.8	40.3
31,900	71.1	68.7	98.3	54.3	74.9	40.4
32,000	71.3	68.8	98.3	54.4	75.0	40.5
32,100	71.5	69.0	98.3	54.6	75.2	40.6
32,200	71.6	69.1	98.3	54.6	75.3	40.7
32,300	71.8	69.3	98.4	54.7	75.4	40.8
32,400	72.0	69.4	98.4	54.8	75.5	40.9
32,500	72.2	69.6	98.4	54.9	75.7	41.0
32,600	72.4	69.7	98.4	55.1	75.8	41.1
32,700	72.6	69.9	98.4	55.2	75.9	41.3
32,800	72.7	70.0	98.4	55.3	76.0	41.4
32,900	72.9	70.2	98.5	55.4	76.1	41.5
33,000	73.1	70.3	98.5	55.6	76.3	41.6
33,100	73.2	70.4	98.5	55.6	76.4	41.7
33,200	73.4	70.6	98.5	55.8	76.5	41.8
33,300	73.6	70.7	98.5	55.9	76.6	41.9
33,400	73.8	70.9	98.5	56.0	76.7	42.0
33,500	73.9	71.0	98.6	56.0	76.8	42.1
33,600	74.1	71.1	98.6	56.1	77.0	42.2
33,700	74.3	71.3	98.6	56.2	77.1	42.3
33,800	74.5	71.4	98.6	56.3	77.2	42.4
33,900	74.6	71.6	98.6	56.4	77.3	42.5
34,000	74.8	71.7	98.6	56.6	77.4	42.7
34,100	74.9	71.8	98.7	56.7	77.5	42.8
34,200	75.1	72.0	98.7	56.7	77.6	42.9
34,300	75.3	72.1	98.7	56.8	77.7	43.0
34,400	75.4	72.2	98.7	56.9	77.8	43.1
34,500	75.6	72.3	98.7	57.1	77.9	43.2
34,600	75.7	72.5	98.7	57.2	78.1	43.3
34,700	75.9	72.6	98.7	57.3	78.2	43.4
34,800	76.0	72.7	98.7	57.4	78.3	43.5
34,900	76.2	72.9	98.8	57.5	78.4	43.6
35,000	76.3	73.0	98.8	57.6	78.5	43.7
35,100	76.4	73.1	98.8	57.7	78.6	43.8
35,200	76.6	73.3	98.8	57.9	78.7	43.9
35,300	76.8	73.4	98.8	58.0	78.8	44.0
35,400	76.9	73.5	98.8	58.1	78.9	44.2
35,500	77.0	73.6	98.8	58.2	79.0	44.3
35,600	77.1	73.8	98.8	58.3	79.1	44.4
35,700	77.3	73.9	98.9	58.3	79.2	44.5
35,800	77.4	74.0	98.9	58.4	79.3	44.6
35,900	77.6	74.1	98.9	58.5	79.4	44.7
36,000	77.7	74.3	98.9	58.7	79.5	44.9
36,100	77.8	74.4	98.9	58.8	79.6	45.0
36,200	77.9	74.5	98.9	58.9	79.7	45.1
36,300	78.1	74.7	98.9	59.0	79.8	45.2
36,400	78.2	74.8	98.9	59.1	79.9	45.3
36,500	78.3	74.9	99.0	59.2	80.0	45.4
36,600	78.5	75.0	99.0	59.3	80.1	45.5
36,700	78.6	75.1	99.0	59.4	80.2	45.6
36,800	78.7	75.3	99.0	59.5	80.3	45.7
36,900	78.8	75.4	99.0	59.6	80.4	45.8
37,000	78.9	75.5	99.0	59.7	80.5	45.9
37,100	79.0	75.6	99.0	59.7	80.6	46.0
37,200	79.2	75.7	99.0	59.9	80.7	46.1
37,300	79.3	75.8	99.0	60.0	80.8	46.2
37,400	79.4	76.0	99.0	60.1	80.9	46.3
37,500	79.5	76.1	99.1	60.2	81.0	46.5
37,600	79.7	76.2	99.1	60.3	81.1	46.6
37,700	79.8	76.3	99.1	60.3	81.1	46.7
37,800	79.9	76.4	99.1	60.4	81.2	46.8
37,900	80.0	76.5	99.1	60.5	81.3	46.9
38,000	80.1	76.6	99.1	60.6	81.4	47.0
38,100	80.2	76.8	99.1	60.7	81.5	47.1
38,200	80.4	76.9	99.1	60.8	81.6	47.2
38,300	80.5	77.0	99.1	60.9	81.7	47.3
38,400	80.6	77.1	99.1	61.0	81.8	47.4
38,500	80.7	77.2	99.1	61.1	81.9	47.5
38,600	80.8	77.3	99.2	61.2	81.9	47.6
38,700	80.9	77.4	99.2	61.3	82.0	47.7
38,800	81.0	77.5	99.2	61.3	82.1	47.8
38,900	81.1	77.6	99.2	61.4	82.2	47.9
39,000	81.2	77.7	99.2	61.5	82.3	48.0
39,100	81.3	77.8	99.2	61.6	82.4	48.1
39,200	81.4	77.9	99.2	61.7	82.4	48.3
39,300	81.5	78.0	99.2	61.8	82.5	48.4
39,400	81.6	78.1	99.2	61.9	82.6	48.5
39,500	81.7	78.2	99.2	62.0	82.7	48.6
39,600	81.8	78.3	99.2	62.1	82.8	48.7
39,700	81.9	78.4	99.2	62.2	82.8	48.8
39,800	82.0	78.5	99.2	62.3	82.9	48.9
39,900	82.1	78.6	99.3	62.3	83.0	49.0
40,000	82.2	78.8	99.3	62.5	83.1	49.2
40,100	82.3	78.9	99.3	62.6	83.2	49.3
40,200	82.4	79.0	99.3	62.6	83.3	49.4
40,300	82.5	79.1	99.3	62.8	83.3	49.5
40,400	82.6	79.2	99.3	62.9	83.4	49.6
40,500	82.7	79.3	99.3	62.9	83.5	49.7
40,600	82.8	79.4	99.3	63.0	83.6	49.8
40,700	82.8	79.5	99.3	63.1	83.6	49.9
40,800	82.9	79.6	99.3	63.2	83.7	50.0
40,900	83.0	79.7	99.3	63.3	83.8	50.1
41,000	83.1	79.8	99.3	63.4	83.9	50.2
41,100	83.2	79.8	99.3	63.5	83.9	50.3
41,200	83.3	79.9	99.3	63.6	84.0	50.4
41,300	83.4	80.0	99.3	63.7	84.1	50.5
41,400	83.5	80.1	99.4	63.7	84.2	50.6
41,500	83.5	80.2	99.4	63.8	84.2	50.7
41,600	83.6	80.3	99.4	63.9	84.3	50.9
41,700	83.7	80.4	99.4	64.0	84.4	51.0
41,800	83.8	80.5	99.4	64.1	84.4	51.1
41,900	83.9	80.6	99.4	64.1	84.5	51.2
42,000	84.0	80.7	99.4	64.2	84.6	51.3
42,100	84.0	80.7	99.4	64.3	84.7	51.4
42,200	84.1	80.8	99.4	64.5	84.7	51.5
42,300	84.2	80.9	99.4	64.5	84.8	51.6
42,400	84.3	81.0	99.4	64.6	84.9	51.7
42,500	84.4	81.1	99.4	64.7	84.9	51.8
42,600	84.4	81.2	99.4	64.7	85.0	51.9
42,700	84.5	81.3	99.4	64.8	85.1	52.0
42,800	84.6	81.3	99.4	64.9	85.1	52.1
42,900	84.7	81.4	99.4	65.0	85.2	52.3
43,000	84.7	81.5	99.4	65.1	85.3	52.4
43,100	84.8	81.6	99.4	65.2	85.3	52.5
43,200	84.9	81.7	99.4	65.3	85.4	52.6
43,300	85.0	81.8	99.5	65.4	85.5	52.7
43,400	85.0	81.8	99.5	65.4	85.5	52.8
43,500	85.1	81.9	99.5	65.6	85.6	52.9
43,600	85.2	82.0	99.5	65.7	85.6	53.0
43,700	85.2	82.1	99.5	65.7	85.7	53.1
43,800	85.3	82.2	99.5	65.8	85.8	53.2
43,900	85.4	82.3	99.5	65.9	85.8	53.3
44,000	85.4	82.3	99.5	65.9	85.9	53.4
44,100	85.5	82.4	99.5	66.0	86.0	53.5
44,200	85.6	82.5	99.5	66.1	86.0	53.6
44,300	85.6	82.6	99.5	66.2	86.1	53.7
44,400	85.7	82.7	99.5	66.3	86.1	53.8
44,500	85.8	82.7	99.5	66.3	86.2	53.9
44,600	85.8	82.8	99.5	66.4	86.3	54.0
44,700	85.9	82.9	99.5	66.5	86.3	54.1
44,800	85.9	83.0	99.5	66.6	86.4	54.2
44,900	86.0	83.0	99.5	66.7	86.4	54.3
45,000	86.0	83.1	99.5	66.8	86.5	54.5
45,100	86.1	83.2	99.5	66.9	86.6	54.6
45,200	86.2	83.3	99.5	67.0	86.6	54.7
45,300	86.2	83.4	99.5	67.1	86.7	54.8
45,400	86.3	83.4	99.5	67.2	86.7	54.9
45,500	86.3	83.5	99.6	67.2	86.8	55.0
45,600	86.4	83.6	99.6	67.3	86.9	55.1
45,700	86.4	83.7	99.6	67.4	86.9	55.2
45,800	86.5	83.7	99.6	67.5	87.0	55.3
45,900	86.6	83.8	99.6	67.6	87.0	55.4
46,000	86.6	83.9	99.6	67.7	87.1	55.5
46,100	86.7	83.9	99.6	67.8	87.1	55.6
46,200	86.7	84.0	99.6	67.8	87.2	55.7
46,300	86.8	84.1	99.6	67.9	87.2	55.8
46,400	86.9	84.2	99.6	68.0	87.3	55.9
46,500	86.9	84.2	99.6	68.1	87.4	56.0
46,600	87.0	84.3	99.6	68.2	87.4	56.1
46,700	87.0	84.4	99.6	68.3	87.5	56.2
46,800	87.1	84.4	99.6	68.4	87.5	56.3
46,900	87.1	84.5	99.6	68.4	87.6	56.4
47,000	87.2	84.6	99.6	68.5	87.6	56.5
47,100	87.3	84.6	99.6	68.6	87.7	56.6
47,200	87.3	84.7	99.6	68.7	87.7	56.7
47,300	87.3	84.8	99.6	68.8	87.8	56.8
47,400	87.4	84.8	99.6	68.9	87.8	56.9
47,500	87.5	84.9	99.6	69.0	87.9	57.0
47,600	87.5	85.0	99.6	69.0	87.9	57.1
47,700	87.6	85.0	99.6	69.1	88.0	57.1
47,800	87.6	85.1	99.6	69.2	88.0	57.2
47,900	87.7	85.2	99.6	69.3	88.1	57.3
48,000	87.7	85.2	99.6	69.4	88.1	57.5
48,100	87.8	85.3	99.6	69.5	88.2	57.6
48,200	87.8	85.3	99.6	69.5	88.2	57.7
48,300	87.9	85.4	99.6	69.6	88.3	57.8
48,400	87.9	85.5	99.6	69.7	88.3	57.9
48,500	88.0	85.5	99.7	69.8	88.4	58.0
48,600	88.0	85.6	99.7	69.8	88.4	58.1
48,700	88.1	85.7	99.7	69.9	88.5	58.1
48,800	88.1	85.7	99.7	70.0	88.5	58.2
48,900	88.2	85.8	99.7	70.0	88.6	58.3
49,000	88.2	85.8	99.7	70.1	88.6	58.4
49,100	88.3	85.9	99.7	70.2	88.6	58.5
49,200	88.3	85.9	99.7	70.2	88.7	58.6
49,300	88.4	86.0	99.7	70.3	88.7	58.7
49,400	88.4	86.1	99.7	70.3	88.8	58.8
49,500	88.5	86.1	99.7	70.4	88.8	58.9
49,600	88.5	86.2	99.7	70.5	88.9	59.0
49,700	88.6	86.2	99.7	70.6	88.9	59.1
49,800	88.6	86.3	99.7	70.7	89.0	59.2
49,900	88.7	86.3	99.7	70.7	89.0	59.3
50,000	88.7	86.4	99.7	70.9	89.1	59.4
50,100	88.8	86.5	99.7	70.9	89.1	59.5
50,200	88.8	86.5	99.7	71.0	89.2	59.6
50,300	88.9	86.6	99.7	71.1	89.2	59.7
50,400	88.9	86.7	99.7	71.1	89.2	59.8
50,500	89.0	86.7	99.7	71.2	89.3	59.9
50,600	89.0	86.8	99.7	71.3	89.3	60.0
50,700	89.0	86.8	99.7	71.3	89.4	60.1
50,800	89.1	86.9	99.7	71.4	89.4	60.2
50,900	89.1	86.9	99.7	71.5	89.5	60.2
51,000	89.2	87.0	99.7	71.6	89.5	60.3
51,100	89.2	87.0	99.7	71.7	89.5	60.4
51,200	89.2	87.1	99.7	71.7	89.6	60.5
51,300	89.3	87.1	99.7	71.8	89.6	60.6
51,400	89.3	87.2	99.7	71.8	89.6	60.7
51,500	89.4	87.2	99.7	71.9	89.7	60.8
51,600	89.4	87.3	99.7	71.9	89.7	60.9
51,700	89.4	87.3	99.7	72.0	89.8	61.0
51,800	89.5	87.4	99.7	72.0	89.8	61.1
51,900	89.5	87.4	99.7	72.1	89.8	61.1
52,000	89.6	87.5	99.7	72.2	89.9	61.3
52,100	89.6	87.5	99.7	72.3	89.9	61.4
52,200	89.7	87.6	99.7	72.4	90.0	61.4
52,300	89.7	87.6	99.7	72.5	90.0	61.5
52,400	89.7	87.7	99.7	72.5	90.0	61.6
52,500	89.8	87.7	99.7	72.6	90.1	61.7
52,600	89.8	87.8	99.7	72.7	90.1	61.8
52,700	89.8	87.8	99.8	72.8	90.1	61.9
52,800	89.9	87.8	99.8	72.9	90.2	62.0
52,900	89.9	87.9	99.8	73.0	90.2	62.1
53,000	90.0	87.9	99.8	73.1	90.3	62.1
53,100	90.0	88.0	99.8	73.1	90.3	62.2
53,200	90.0	88.0	99.8	73.2	90.3	62.3
53,300	90.1	88.1	99.8	73.2	90.4	62.4
53,400	90.1	88.1	99.8	73.3	90.4	62.5
53,500	90.1	88.2	99.8	73.4	90.4	62.6
53,600	90.2	88.2	99.8	73.4	90.5	62.7
53,700	90.2	88.3	99.8	73.5	90.5	62.7
53,800	90.2	88.3	99.8	73.5	90.5	62.8
53,900	90.3	88.3	99.8	73.6	90.6	62.9
54,000	90.3	88.4	99.8	73.7	90.6	63.0
54,100	90.4	88.4	99.8	73.7	90.6	63.1
54,200	90.4	88.5	99.8	73.8	90.7	63.2
54,300	90.4	88.5	99.8	73.9	90.7	63.3
54,400	90.5	88.6	99.8	73.9	90.7	63.4
54,500	90.5	88.6	99.8	74.0	90.8	63.4
54,600	90.5	88.6	99.8	74.1	90.8	63.5
54,700	90.6	88.7	99.8	74.2	90.8	63.6
54,800	90.6	88.7	99.8	74.2	90.9	63.7
54,900	90.6	88.8	99.8	74.3	90.9	63.8
55,000	90.7	88.8	99.8	74.4	90.9	63.9
Note: TFWP = Temporary Foreign Worker Program; IMP = International Mobility Program. Sources: Statistics Canada, Non-permanent Resident File and Longitudinal Worker File.

Significant differences were also observed between temporary residents and Canadian workers with lower annual earnings cut-offs for weak attachment. If the cut-off is $5,000, for example, about one in five temporary residents with paid employment (20.8%) were weakly attached, compared with 9.6% of Canadian workers. By program, 43.5% of employed study permit holders and 16.2% of IMP workers were weakly attached using this definition, compared with 6.1% of TFWP workers (Chart 1).

Chart 1 also provides additional insights into the earnings distribution of individuals in various programs. For example, earnings among study permit holders tended to be quite low, since virtually all of them earned less than $30,000 in 2019. There were more higher earners in the IMP and TFWP, with roughly one-quarter of these permit holders earning more than $50,000. However, these shares were below that of Canadian workers, among whom about 40% earned more than $50,000.

Differences in weak attachment by sex, age and province

In 2019, 31.9% of female and 24.6% of male temporary residents with paid employment were weakly attached to the Canadian labour force based on the $7,500 threshold. While these proportions were more than twice those of Canadian workers, the difference in weak attachment between men and women was similar to that of Canadian workers (Table 1).



Generally, younger workers were more likely to be weakly attached. This is true for both employed temporary residents and Canadian workers. Among those receiving paid employment income, about two in five temporary residents aged 18 to 24 (41.5%) earned no more than $7,500 in 2019, compared with 22.2% of those aged 25 to 34, 16.9% of those aged 35 to 44 and 14.1% of those aged 45 to 54.

Temporary residents who had paid employment in Newfoundland and Labrador (38.0%) and Nova Scotia (35.6%) were significantly more likely to be weakly attached to the labour force than those in other provinces (from 22.3% to 29.7%). In particular, among TFWP workers, those employed in Nova Scotia had the highest level of weak attachment (21.2%), followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (14.1%). While both provinces also ranked high in terms of weak attachment among other working temporary resident groups, they did not always rank highest. Indeed, the level of weak attachment among IMP workers was highest in New Brunswick (28.0%), and the level was highest in Quebec among those with a study permit (64.0%).

Differences in weak attachment by industry

In the Canadian economy, different industries display different levels of weak attachment to the labour force. This can be seen in the results for Canadian workers. Industries that tended to have a larger share of workers weakly attached to the labour force included agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (20.6%); retail trade (20.2%); arts, entertainment and recreation (31.5%); and accommodation and food services (27.8%) (Table 1). Similar industries tended to have the highest level of weak attachment among temporary residents, and most industries displayed a higher level of weak attachment among temporary residents than among Canadian workers. The exception was agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, where the TFWP dominated and weak attachment was much lower, at 11.8%. Furthermore, in some other industries, TFWP workers also displayed lower rates of weak attachment than did Canadian workers. This was particularly true for retail trade; professional, scientific and technical services; educational services; and accommodation and food services.^Note

Conclusion

Knowing the number of work permit holders in Canada is valuable information for many reasons, but it is not a good indicator of the amount of labour being provided by temporary residents. Some permit holders do not work each year, and of those employed, many have a weak attachment to the labour force (providing relatively few hours of labour). In 2019, for example, two-thirds of IMP permit holders for work purposes were employed, along with 86.5% of those in the TFWP (Lu & Hou, 2023b).

The analysis in this article shows that of temporary residents employed in 2019, one-quarter were weakly attached^Note to the labour force. This compared with 13.0% of Canadian workers. Of employed TFWP participants, 10.0% were weakly attached, compared with 22.0% for the IMP workers and more than one-half of employed individuals with study permits. In other words, in 2019, after excluding those who were not employed and those who earned less than $7,500 in the year, it was found that 422,000 IMP permit holders (about one-half) were strongly attached to the labor force and hence provided a significant amount of labour. Of the 134,000 work permit holders in the TFWP, 105,000 (more than three-quarters) were strongly attached to the labour force.

There was significant variation by workers’ characteristics in the tendency to be weakly attached. Among employed temporary residents, women were more likely than men to display weak attachment, and younger workers more so than older workers. Temporary residents who worked in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador displayed a higher level of weak labour force attachment than those in other provinces. Although the level of weak attachment was higher among temporary residents than among Canadian workers in most industries, the pattern of differences across industries was generally the same for temporary residents and Canadian workers.

Authors

Yuqian Lu is with the Social Analysis and Modelling Division, Analytical Studies and Modelling Branch, at Statistics Canada. Garnett Picot is with the Research and Data Branch at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Marc Frenette and Feng Hou for their advice and comments on an earlier version of this study.

Appendix: Data and definitions

After temporary residents are extracted from the Non-permanent Resident File, which maintains information on all foreign nationals with a valid temporary residential status (excluding visitors) in Canada since 1980, records are linked to the Longitudinal Worker File, which contains information from annual T1 and T4 administrative files. Those who had a landing record in 2019 are excluded from the analysis. In determining the status of those with multiple types of permits in the year, this analysis prioritizes the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, followed by the International Mobility Program, study permits and finally other temporary status.

In this analysis, temporary residents with paid employment and Canadian workers are defined as those who receive positive earnings. Earnings refers to total annual T4 earnings. Industry sectors are grouped based on the two-digit North American Industry Classification System codes. If a worker received T4 earnings from multiple industries, only the one with the highest earnings is considered.

References

Government of Canada (2023). EI regular benefits - Do you qualify.

Lu, Y. & Hou. F. (2023a). Foreign workers in Canada: Work permit holders versus employment income records, 2010 to 2022. Economic and Social Reports 3(10).

Lu, Y. & Hou. F. (2023b). Foreign workers in Canada: Changing composition and employment incidences of work permit holders. Economic and Social Reports 3(10).

Lu, Y. & Hou. F. (2023c). Foreign workers in Canada: Distribution of paid employment by industry. Economic and Social Reports 3(12).