Employers are now required to advertise for an extended period and prioritize recruiting youth before hiring foreign workers through the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Effective April 1, 2026, employers seeking a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the low-wage stream of the TFWP must advertise job positions for a minimum of eight consecutive weeks, doubling the previous four-week mandate.

Starting from this date, employers must also demonstrate active efforts in recruiting youth before considering foreign nationals through the TFWP.

The new regulations from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) impose additional advertising requirements on employers applying for an LMIA under the low-wage stream.

Extended Advertising Period

Prior to April 1, employers were obligated to advertise LMIA-based positions for a minimum of four consecutive weeks within three months before submitting their LMIA application. The new rule extends this minimum advertising period to eight consecutive weeks.

The advertisement must still fall within the three-month window before the LMIA application submission.

At least one of the required recruitment activities must remain active until ESDC issues a decision on the LMIA application.

The longer advertising window necessitates more lead time for employers planning to hire through the low-wage stream, requiring adjustments to recruitment timelines.

Additional LMIA Requirements

Under the updated recruitment requirements for low-wage LMIA applications, employers must now demonstrate efforts to engage and attract youth to apply for job positions.

ESDC emphasizes the importance of providing youth with ample opportunities for employment.

This new requirement focuses on youth outreach as a distinct recruitment activity that employers must fulfill.

To comply, employers can take various steps, including posting on Job Bank’s youth section, collaborating with educational institutions, participating in youth employment programs, and utilizing platforms popular among youth.

Assessment of Youth Outreach

ESDC has included “targeted outreach to youth” as an approved method of recruitment, ensuring employers actively engage with the youth demographic in their hiring processes.