Faced with skills shortages or a shrinking labour pool? Consider recruiting or retaining foreign workers.

If you’re thinking of a recruiting foreign worker you need to decide whether you need to hire someone on either a temporary or a permanent basis. You should also consider finding suitable foreign workers already in Canada, instead of recruiting from abroad.

If you decide to hire from abroad, there are many federal and provincial programs available to assist you. These programs aim to meet your unique needs and help you hire a foreign worker.

Making the Best Choice for Your Workplace

Not sure which option meets the needs of your workplace? Check the following resources to help you make the best choice:

• Quick Links to Hiring Foreign Workers - provides information on programs and process for hiring foreign workers. Prepared by the BC Chamber of Commerce.
• Diversity at Work - Recruiting and Retaining Immigrants – this WorkBC toolkit provides useful information about recruiting and retaining immigrants.
• WelcomeBC - a one-stop source of information about living, working, studying and investing in B.C.
• Hiring and Retaining Skilled Immigrants - A Cultural Competence Toolkit - designed to help you access and integrate skilled immigrants into your workplace.
• go2 – The Resource for People in Tourism, Health Match BC and the BC Construction Association – sector associations that offer a range of information on hiring foreign workers.
• Enhancing Competitiveness with Internationally Trained Workers – produced by The Alliance of Sector Councils and the Conference Board of Canada, this page offers links to workshops and resources on internationally trained workers.

Recruiting Temporary Workers

If you’re seeking a temporary worker from another country, there are many options available.

Visit the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which Canadian employers use to address local skill and labour shortages. This program allows eligible foreign workers to work in Canada for an authorized period of time.

In addition to the TFWP, it’s possible to hire foreign students, graduates and youth through one of the following:

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada's work permit - allows students and graduates to work while studying in Canada.
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Working Holiday Program - allows foreign youth to work for up to 24 months in Canada.

Recruiting Permanent Workers

If you intend to hire a worker permanently, check out the following options:

• The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program - accelerates the immigration process for qualified skilled workers and experienced entrepreneurs who want to live and work in B.C.
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Canadian Experience Class - helps temporary foreign workers and foreign students who graduated in Canada transition from temporary to permanent residence.

Legal Considerations

It’s important for employers to follow B.C.’s employment laws when recruiting foreign workers.

For example, when you apply to certain provincial and federal programs, only qualified professionals (lawyers and members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants) are authorized to represent you.

Looking for more information? Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more.