How to Get a Job in Canada as a Foreigner
Get a job in Canada as a foreigner. Strategies and tips for success. Make your dream a reality.
Canada is a top destination for skilled foreign workers and their families, because of the many Canadian job opportunities; high demand for skilled foreign workers to fill thousands of jobs in Canada; competitive salaries that workers can earn; many Canadian visa programs that are available; good quality of life in Canada; the general friendliness of Canadians toward newcomers; and for other reasons.
Perhaps, you have been wondering how to get a job in Canada as a foreigner.
This guide will give you the essential information, so keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
Is it easy to get a job in Canada as a foreigner?
Whether it is easy or a challenge to get a job in Canada as a foreigner will depend on a variety of factors.
Foreign workers with good English or French language abilities, as well as work experience and skills that are in high-demand by Canadian employers, will find thousands of jobs in Canada available.
It is generally easier to get a job in Canada as a foreigner if you have prior Canadian employment experience (for example, as an international student or temporary foreign worker who was authorized to work in Canada).
Furthermore, securing a Canadian job offer is simpler as a permanent resident of Canada, compared with trying to obtain Canadian employment from outside the country, since many employers are seeking applicants who can already legally work in Canada.
Nonetheless, there are hundreds of thousands of Canadian job vacancies and an ongoing labor shortage, so many employers are willing to sponsor foreign workers and/or wait for them to arrive with the relevant Canadian visa.
When you are trying to get a job in Canada as a foreigner, keep in mind that there may be a greater demand for your occupation in certain locations compared with other parts of the country, which can affect how easy or difficult it is for you to find Canadian employment there.
Many foreign workers get a job in Canada that is in their career field, however, it is also common for new immigrants to obtain Canadian employment in a field that is related to their career or is in a different business sector when they are first getting established and building their professional network in Canada.
Receiving a favorable Education Credential Assessment (ECA) and other professional license or recognition can make it easier to get a job in Canada as a foreigner and may also facilitate the Canadian immigration process.
For example, some jobs in Canada (such as in healthcare or skilled trades) require a professional license or certification issued in the province or territory where Canadian employment will occur, and points can be received for education with a favorable ECA when applying for Canadian immigration through the Express Entry system.
Another important factor when searching for jobs in Canada is having a professional online network of contacts (such as through LinkedIn) who may be able to connect you with Canadian job openings that they know about.
Of course, possessing good English or French language skills is very important if you want to work in Canada and it is required for many Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers.
These are some of the factors that can influence how easy or difficult it is to get a job in Canada as a foreigner.
Thousands of foreign-born workers are hired by Canadian employers every year, so it is definitely possible to get a job in Canada if you follow the best practices for Canadian job-seeking, are persistent and receive authorization to legally work in Canada.
Canadian job market stats and facts
Canada has the 10th largest economy in the world and is a member of the Group of Seven (G7) countries with advanced economies.
The Canadian job market is very strong, boasting a low unemployment rate and approximately 900,000 vacant jobs in Canada advertised.
The French-speaking province of Quebec has generally had the lowest unemployment rate of any province or territory in Canada with QSW program, however, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario also enjoy low unemployment rates.
Some cities in Canada have extremely low unemployment rates (April 2023), such as Quebec City (Quebec) at just 1.7 percent; Victoria (British Columbia) at 3.2 percent; and Guelph (Ontario) at 3.8 percent.
Consequently, there is a strong and ongoing demand for skilled foreign workers to help fill hundreds of thousands of jobs in Canada in every sector of the economy including:
- Accounting
- Business
- Construction
- Education
- Engineering
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Maintenance and Repair
- Manufacturing
- Natural Resources
According to Statistics Canada, foreign-born workers account for 80% of Canadian job growth and that percentage is expected to increase even further in the coming years as millions of “baby-boomers” retire from the workforce.
Many employers in Canada have faced challenges attracting and keeping employees, so they have been offering higher salaries and better benefits to entice qualified workers.
Thus, Canada’s job market has been described as a Canadian job-seeker’s market, which helps to explain why hundreds of thousands of foreign workers are moving to Canada every year.
Top 10 popular jobs in Canada for 2023:
- Registered Nurse
- Electrical Engineer
- Accountant
- Software Developer
- Project Manager
- Welder
- Human Resource Manager
- Driver
- Mechanical Engineer
- Business Analyst
How to get a job in Canada as a foreigner:
- Prepare your CV/resume for each job in Canada that you apply for (e.g., use keywords from the job description, etc.)
- Build your professional online network (create a LinkedIn profile and be active on it with relevant posts, etc.)
- Use online Canadian job search engines, such as Canada’s Job Bank: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home
- Visit the “Job Opportunities” or “Employment” webpages of companies where you want to work in Canada
- Apply for as many jobs in Canada as possible to increase your chances of having a Canadian job interview
- Prepare for the Canadian job interview (whether it is in-person, via an online video conference or over the phone)
- Improve your English and/or French language skills (if necessary)
- Receive legal authorization to live and work in Canada:
- Apply for Canadian permanent residency; or
- Apply for a Canadian Work Permit and Temporary Resident Visa
Conclusion
Hundreds of thousands of people move to Canada as new permanent residents or temporary foreign workers each year through various Canadian visa programs and have the opportunity to legally work in Canada and enjoy its high standard of living.
The demand for skilled foreign workers is expected to grow as millions of Canadians retire from the country’s workforce, which is partly why Canada’s government keeps increasing the number of Canadian visas that can be granted to foreign workers each year.
For example, the current Three-Year Canadian Immigration Plan set a goal of 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
Most of these new Canadian permanent residents (around 60 percent) will be skilled foreign workers and their family members.
This is one of the best times for you to get a job in Canada as a foreigner, since there are thousands of Canadian jobs available and Canada’s government has approved record Canadian immigration levels.
One of the easiest ways to get a job in Canada as a foreigner is as a Canadian permanent resident, because you would have permission to live, study and work in Canada for an unlimited period of time.
Canadian Visa Expert collaborates with a team of authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility and guide you through each step of the application process if you qualify.
Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
Is it hard to get a job as a foreigner in Canada?
Whether it is difficult or easy to get a job in Canada as a foreigner depends on various factors. Following Canadian job-seeking best practices can generally make it easier to get a job in Canada. In general, it is easier to get a job in Canada as a foreigner if you already have authorization to work in Canada legally, such as by possessing Canadian permanent residency. Many international students have the opportunity to work in Canada according to certain regulations with a Canadian Work Permit and, depending on how much skilled work experience they received in Canada, they might be able to apply for Canadian permanent residency after graduation. Being invited to a Canadian job interview is easier if you modify your CV/resume for each job in Canada that you apply for. Canada’s Job Bank is a good place to search for Canadian jobs online, but you can also visit the “Employment” webpages of companies you are interested in working for. Having a LinkedIn profile can help you to network with others in your profession who may know about Canadian job openings. Finally, you should always prepare for the Canadian job interview regardless of the format, since this is when an employer may decide whether to offer you a job in Canada.
Which part of Canada is easy to get a job?
There are around 900,000 Canadian job openings all across the country, so there are plenty of jobs in Canada to apply for. It is worth researching where your particular occupation is needed in Canada, since that affects how easy it is to get a job. Provinces with low unemployment rates are good places for your Canadian job search, such as Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario. Similarly, some cities in Canada have exceptionally low unemployment rates and skilled foreign workers are high in demand.
Can a foreigner get a job in Canada without a degree?
Yes, there are many high-demand jobs in Canada that do not require a university degree, although some amount of post-secondary training is usually needed, such as a vocational school certificate, apprenticeship, or on-the-job training. Many jobs in Canada in the construction industry, as well as the maintenance and repair sector, do not require a degree and are eligible for certain Canadian immigration programs.
