Economic Growth & Demographic Shifts
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in Canadian employers hiring foreign workers. This shift doesn't mean fewer job opportunities for Canadians; instead, it signals positive growth in the country's job market and changing labour demographics. In this blog post, we'll explore the factors behind the rise in hiring foreign workers and the positive effects this trend has on Canada's economy.
High Rates of Retirement
Increased Job Vacancies
As Canada’s economy grows, so does demand for labour. According to Statistics Canada, 411,800 vacant jobs were available in Canada in June of 2015. By June 2023, there were 779,390 vacancies (an increase of 89%). In the same period, the percent of jobs going vacant rose from 2.6% to 4.3%.
Demographic Shifts
One of the primary drivers behind the surge in hiring foreign workers is the process of demographic shift occurring in Canada, particular in the populations’ average age. Approximately one third of Canadians are retired or nearing retirement (StatsCan, 2022). An aging population has led to a shortage of skilled labor as compared to demand for labour, particularly in industries that require rare and specialized skills and experience. As a result, employers are turning to the global talent pool to fill these gaps and ensure the continued growth of their businesses.
High Rates of Retirement
Canada is experiencing a wave of retirements as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age. This mass departure from the workforce creates a vacuum of experienced professionals, particularly in fields where expertise is crucial. To maintain productivity and innovation, Canadian employers are increasingly seeking foreign workers with the necessary skills and qualifications to contribute to the growth of their organizations.
High Demand in Critical Specialized Positions
Certain industries, such as healthcare, technology, and engineering, are witnessing a surge in demand for skilled professionals. Canada's commitment to providing public and accessible healthcare services, for example, has resulted in a growing need for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The shortage of local talent in these critical positions has led employers to cast a wider net and recruit foreign workers who can bring valuable expertise to the Canadian workforce.
Positive Impacts on Canada's Economy
Contrary to the misconception that hiring foreign workers negatively affects the job market for Canadians, the influx of global talent contributes significantly to the growth and resilience of Canada's economy. When companies are able to fill key positions with skilled individuals, they can expand their operations, innovate, and remain competitive on the global stage. This, in turn, fosters economic activity, creating a ripple effect that leads to the creation of more jobs across various sectors.
Hiring foreign workers isn't a challenge to local opportunities; it's a strategic move to fill the growing number of jobs in Canada’s economy.
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Refuse to process regions in Canada are affecting nearly all metropolitan areas in Canada, and more regional changes were announced on October 10th. The regions that are still available to keep your trained and employed foreign workers or obtain new if local people are not available are: BC - Victoria Saskatchewan - Saskatoon Ontario - Thunder Bay New: Peterborough Quebec - Drummondville, Trois-Rivieres, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Saguenay PEI - Entire province The following regions, before October 10th, qualified and no longer qualify to keep their foreign workers in low-wage positions: BC - Kelowna Alberta - Red Deer, Lethbridge Saskatchewan - Regina Manitoba - Winnipeg Ontario - Sudbury, Guelph All other metropolitan cities in Canada do not qualify to keep their foreign workers in low-wage positions. The other occupations businesses qualify to keep their workers are: Rural communities outside of the metropolitan areas. Health care workers Care home workers Construction workers Food Manufacturing Seasonal businesses requiring workers for 120 or 270 days or less Simplify Hiring, Stay Compliant Canada’s hiring landscape is shifting quickly, with refuse-to-process regions expanding, new unemployment data set to be released in October, and employers under pressure to act fast. Fill a Role was built to give you an advantage. If you’re an employer, this means fewer wasted hours and faster hires. If you’re a job seeker, it means your application rises to the top where employers can see it. Don’t wait until the next round of immigration changes catches you off guard. Start posting with Fill a Role today.
Canada’s Staffing Challenges Saskatchewan-built platform aims to reduce agency nurse reliance and fill critical roles with permanent hires. Saskatchewan, Canada – August 20, 2025 – FillaRole has officially launched FillaRole Health, a Saskatchewan-built, AI hiring and onboarding platform, designed for Canada’s healthcare sector. It gives busy HR teams one centralized tool to post jobs, track applicants, manage interviews and onboard hires, without the spreadsheet chaos. The platform arrives at a crucial moment: Saskatchewan alone spent over $70 million on contract nurses in 2024, nearly triple the cost just two years ago. In Nova Scotia, the 2024 bill hit $141.7 million despite policy changes, while BC and Quebec are each spending over $1.5 billion annually on agency staffing. The physician shortage is just as troubling. Manitoba recently contracted a consultant $5.25 million to recruit 150 physicians and only two were hired. Across Canada, billions are being diverted to temporary and stop-gap staffing initiatives. “We’re watching the healthcare system drown in contract costs,” said Keli Propp, CEO of FillaRole. “FillaRole Health offers a long-term solution: permanent hires, both local and international, without the 40% premium in wage costs that health authorities are paying right now. You can curb it now or let the bill keep climbing.” To strengthen their presence in the Canadian healthcare space, FillaRole has joined the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network, which is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Canadian technology in healthcare. Through this collaboration, FillaRole gains access to new tools, strategic insights, and opportunities that drive meaningful change with this solution for patients, providers, and communities across Canada. All-in-One Platform Purpose-Built for Healthcare FillaRole Health combines essential hiring systems into one streamlined pl atform: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) : AI-powered job descriptions, resume scraping and one-click interview invites. Immigration & Compliance Software : Built-in LMIA-exempt tracking, international recruitment support and permit workflows. T alent Pool Building : Advertise positions worldwide, funnelling applicants into one centralized pool. Track their engagement to spot the most promising candidates. Additional features include automated posting to 19+ job boards, intelligent applicant ranking, customizable document templates, real human support and performance reports within 48 hours. All of which are securely hosted on Canadian servers. Designed for the Frontlines of Care FillaRole Health is especially suited for: Long-term care homes Private clinics and pharmacies Mental health and allied health practices Regional health authorities Medical recruiters supporting multiple locations The platform prioritizes local hires first, automatically filtering candidates by licensing and credentials, while tracking documentation and renewal dates. All but eliminating those dreaded back-and-forth email chains. The Time to Fix Healthcare Hiring Is Now FillaRole’s core platform already supports 100,000+ users and nearly 40,000 applicants across Canada and was selected earlier this year for VentureLAB’s Accelerated Growth Program. With the launch of FillaRole Health by a Canadian team with decades of experience in HR technology and immigration workflows, the company brings its proven hiring engine directly to Canada’s most urgent frontline staffing crisis. “You shouldn’t need six tools and an immigration lawyer to fill one role,” added Propp. “FillaRole Health makes hiring healthcare workers fast and finally affordable again.” To learn more about FillaRole Health or the CAN Health Membership Program, visit: www.fillarole.ca/healthcare About FillaRole FillaRole is an AI-powered hiring platform developed to simplify employment for Canadian businesses. By automating job postings and applicant sorting, FillaRole enables employers to save time, improve efficiency, and focus on hiring the right talent. Proudly Canadian, FillaRole supports local and international hiring with expert guidance every step of the way. Media Contact: Keli Propp CEO, FillaRole Email: kpropp@fillarole.ca Phone: 306-805-0113