Nearly one in five workers in Canada’s private sector holds temporary status in the country, according to newly released government figures that underscore the nation’s heavy reliance on foreign labor.
According to a May immigration ministry briefing note obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, Canada counted 3,049,277 temporary residents as of early 2025, equivalent to 19% of the private sector’s 16.5 million workers.
Work permit holders make up 1.5 million of these temporary residents, while study permit holders account for 644,000. The count also includes 164,000 family members without their own permits, more than 280,000 asylum claimants holding work permits, and 129,000 people who have remained in Canada illegally after their permits expired.
The briefing note stated that while Canada benefits from temporary residents, the government has committed to reducing temporary immigration growth. The aim is to better match immigration levels with housing availability, workforce requirements and community resources.
Statistics Canada’s January Labour Force Survey counted Canada’s private-sector workforce at nearly 16.5 million people.
The figures underscore the significant role temporary workers play in Canada’s economy, particularly in sectors like food processing and agriculture, where foreign workers have become essential to operations.
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