Since the start of 2025, there has been a sharp decline in the number of new foreign workers arriving in Canada.
This is nearly a 50% fall in the total arrivals of foreign workers in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year.
From January to June 2024, a total of 245137 work permits were issued. Between January and June 2025, the number of work permits issued to foreign workers declined to 119234.
So far in 2025, this has been a 50% decline in foreign work permits issued. There is a big drop for foreign students as well. Canada saw an over 70% drop in study permit approvals till June, with a sharp decline in new international student arrivals.
Work Permits
Canada issued 1,25,903 fewer new temporary workers between January and June 2025 compared to January to June 2024.
From a high of 63,618 work permits issued in March 2024, the work permits issued in March 2025 fell to 18,540. The lowest number for this year was recorded in February with just 14,396 permits issued.
In May and June 2025, Canada issued 14,243 and 11,287 work permits, respectively.
Canada’s New Rules for Foreign Workers
On September 26, 2024, Canada set a 10% cap on low-wage hires per workplace (20% in certain in-demand sectors) and introduced a refusal-to-process policy in urban areas with unemployment at or above 6%.
As of November 8, 2024, more positions are subject to these rules due to an increase in the wage threshold for the high-wage stream.
Canada expects the number of work permits and extensions to go down in the months ahead to reflect the impact of the new measures.
Through the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to bring down the immigrant population in the country. The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan has updated the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and aims to reduce Canada’s temporary population to less than 5%.
Canada has also reformed the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) and tightened eligibility requirements for the PGWP for foreign students.
Further, Canada has tightened work permit eligibility for spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers. This has limited work permits for spouses of temporary foreign residents.