Dear Mr Brown,

I keep seeing a lot of available jobs in Canada posted online. I understand that I have to obtain an LMIA in order to apply for the permit. I want to know the reason it is so hard to obtain these jobs when I am qualified. Also, please let me know if it is my obligation to obtain the LMIA.

—DJC

Dear DJC:

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) states whether the issuance of a work permit to a foreign worker will have a neutral or positive effect on Canada’s economy. It is the employer that must show recruitment effort and results, explanation of how the company would benefit from a foreign worker’s employment, such as profitability, employee skills and positive spillover affecting Canadians. It considers wages, working conditions, the availability of Canadians or permanent residents to do the work, the transfer of skills and knowledge, and the creation of jobs.

LMIA factors

The relevant factors to consider for the issuance of an LMIA include:

• Verification of a genuine employment offer

• Recruitment efforts to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

• Job creation or job retention of Canadian citizens or permanent residents

• Transfer of skills and knowledge for the benefit of Canadian or permanent residents

• Filling labour shortages in the Canadian market due to a skills shortage

• Sufficient wages and working conditions to attract Canadian citizens or permanent residents

Your potential employer must demonstrate that the advertising requirements were met by providing proof of advertisements and the results of this effort to recruit Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents.

Not all job postings are helpful

There is a perception that jobs posting in Canada will help a lot of potential overseas workers. Please note that many employers post job listings for the appearance of transparency in the recruitment purposes and to avoid the appearance of illegal discrimination. However, in many cases, the successful candidate for the position has already been selected. In other words, many positions being advertised are not really vacant. Moreover, many of the jobs do not have a positive LMIA and are not targeted to overseas workers. As such, one should keep this in mind when searching for jobs online.

Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work programme, Visitor’s visas or Appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel, education agent and managing director of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com