Canada annually receives about 300 thousand foreigners arriving to work. According to the official Canadian employment resource Job Bank, with a high level of qualifications and knowledge of English or French earn from 3,000 to 7,000 CAD (2,295-5,355 USD) and provide a prosperous life in Canada for themselves and their families.
However, work visa conditions often make temporary foreign workers dependent on employers for issues such as housing and access to health care. Only obtaining Canadian citizenship will provide equal rights with Canadians and increase the competitiveness of a specialist in the labor market.
Canadian economy and labor market
According to the analytical portal Trading Economics, in July 2022 the unemployment rate in Canada is at 4.9% and is the lowest in the history of research.
There are 890,385 vacancies in the country. The labor market is replete with offers in the fields of IT technologies, energy, medicine, and agriculture. Handymen, housewives and nannies are also in demand.
According to the Canadian publication CIC News, the largest number of people who come to work in Canada per year come from India (85.5 thousand), the second largest number of labor migrants is China (30.3 thousand), followed by the Philippines (27 ,8 thousand). Nigeria took 4th place with 12.6 thousand filled vacancies. The percentage of migrants from the CIS countries is below. From Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, Canadian vacancies are predominantly filled by highly qualified engineers in the information and energy technology industry.
Pros of working in Canada:
- high salaries – a doctor in Russia earns 1940.83 CAD, in Canada – 10,000 CAD;
- reliable legislative framework – documents that are drawn up for employment provide guarantees of timely payments and compensation;
- low inflation – although the rate has increased in 2022, it is still less than expected, according to analysis by Trading Economics.
Disadvantages of immigrating to Canada for work purposes:
- complex procedure for selecting candidates – employers give preference to Canadian citizens and fill vacant positions primarily with applicants with high qualifications and knowledge of English or French at level C1-C2;
- difficulties in professional adaptation—Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian specialists are unfamiliar with the highly competitive Canadian labor environment;
- bureaucratic nuances – only engineers and scientists can obtain a visa and work permit in Canada relatively easily. Service personnel face many obstacles in collecting documents and are most often refused.
Jobs in Canada: popular and in-demand specialties
The well-known Canadian job search portal Jobillico included the following in its list of the most popular vacancies:
- web developer – 49.39 CAD per hour;
- construction manager – CAD 109.39 per hour;
- financial and investment analyst – CAD 33.99 per hour;
- programmer and interactive media developer – 58.99 CAD per hour;
- geologist, oceanographer, oil worker – 85,000 CAD per year;
- industrial engineers, chemists, mechanics, aerospace and computer specialists – CAD 49.18 per hour;
- computer and information systems manager – 95.39 CAD per hour;
- software engineer and designer – CAD 21.20–118.54 per hour (depending on experience);
- Residential and Commercial Electrical Maintenance Specialist – CAD 23.25–119.39 per hour;
- secondary school teacher – 42-60 CAD per hour;
- police officer – 30 CAD per hour;
- accountant – 60,000 CAD per year;
- pharmacist – 23-33 CAD per hour;
- fireman – 28 CAD per hour.
A migrant from the CIS, having work experience, can apply for the above vacancies provided he speaks English or French at level C1 and above. If your language skills are below C1, you can apply for the following positions:
- welder (needs experience in FCAW – semi-automatic arc welding with flux-cored wire) – 36 CAD per hour;
- junior medical worker caring for the elderly, nanny, caregiver – 36 CAD per hour;
- nurses – 28 CAD per hour;
- cooks – 26 CAD per hour;
- electrician – 25 CAD per hour;
- builder – 25 CAD per hour;
- lumberjack – 23 CAD per hour;
- plumbing—22 CAD per hour;
- seasonal worker – 21 CAD per hour;
- truck driver – 21 CAD per hour.
Salary in Canada: minimum and average wages
The minimum wage in Canada varies between provinces and ranges from $11.32 to $15.2. Average monthly salary by industry in US dollars, according to calculations by a popular job search service in the country, in 2022:
- accounting, administration – 4381 USD;
- architecture and art – 4075 USD;
- banking, finance and insurance – 5033 USD;
- child care and education – 4828 USD;
- construction and maintenance – 4397 USD;
- engineering – 6963 USD;
- catering services – 2741 USD;
- healthcare, pharmaceuticals and social services – 8,348 USD;
- hospitality and travel – 4498 USD;
- information technology – 5557 USD;
- journalism and translation – 3877 USD;
- law enforcement and security – 4265 USD;
- legal – 5750 USD;
- marketing sales – 5,238USD;
- retail, cosmetics and customer service – 3270 USD;
- science – 6,118 USD;
- delivery, production and transport – 3315 USD.
The salary depends not only on qualifications, but also on the status of the employee. Immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries cannot claim high earnings, since employers are subject to strict conditions for registering foreigners. Since 2014, Canadian employers have had to prove that the jobs they hire visitors for that pay 1,000 CAD or more are not wanted by Canadian citizens.
Having citizenship of developed countries makes it easier to get a job with a high salary. For example, EU passport holders in Canada, like citizens of CIS countries, must go through the immigration process, but work visas and permits for European applicants are given faster, and the refusal rate for EU passport holders is about a quarter lower than for Russians or Ukrainians. The easiest way to get a high-paying position in any Canadian province is with a Canadian citizen passport – in this case, a work permit is not required.
Requirements for foreign applicants
Foreigners who have expressed a desire to work in Canada are required to:
- know at least one of the official languages (English or French) at level B2 and above;
- prove your intention to leave Canada when your work permit expires;
- confirm financial security for the duration of your stay in the country;
- provide documents confirming the right to stay in Canada;
- have a diploma of education (secondary specialized, bachelor’s or higher education);
- undergo a medical examination at an accredited clinic (name and address indicated in a letter from the Canadian Embassy upon request of the candidate).
A foreign applicant should not apply for vacancies in the field of erotic services (striptease, massage, escort), or apply for a job in a company from the list of “Employers who were found non-compliant” (a list of employers recognized as non-compliant with the conditions of employment programs for foreigners).
Where to find Canadian jobs
You can look for work in Canada yourself on job search sites, on social networks, on Russian-language resources, or you can contact a professional recruitment agency. In any case, when looking for a job, it is recommended to enlist the support of Canadian government organizations that offer resume writing workshops and job search training for immigrants.
The State Job Bank provides free information about:
- workplaces;
- wages;
- main responsibilities;
- employment trends;
- educational requirements.
Search on the Internet
Large online resources for finding work in Canada:
- JobBank is the official government website.
- PayScale – allows you to get an estimate of your potential income when filling out a questionnaire.
- Workopolis – determines the optimal vacancy for the applicant.
- CareerBuilder helps you attract the attention of employers, create a competitive resume, and find a job in Canada.
- Kijiji – publishes advertisements not only about vacancies, but also about rental housing.
- jobGurus is a resource that combines vacancy databases from private and public companies, as well as from recruiting agencies.
Communication with friends and more
You can also find a Canadian employer who will offer the optimal salary and comfortable working conditions through an acquaintance. While in your home country, you can ask friends who have already worked in Canada, subscribe to diaspora groups on social networks and choose an employer based on reviews.
Looking for a job while already in Canada is easier than looking for a job from a distance. You can ask for help from:
- former employees;
- neighbors in the living space or landlord;
- diaspora organizations.
If no one in your social circle has information about vacancies, you should take up volunteering, which is encouraged in Canada at the state level. This experience provides huge benefits:
- skills development;
- the emergence of new useful acquaintances;
- positive attitude of employers towards volunteer applicants.
Recruitment agencies
Recruiting companies provide “free” job searches. The employer pays for the selection of the candidate or the agency’s services are charged from the employee’s subsequent salary.
List of the 20 best recruitment agencies in Canada for foreigners, compiled by the Canadian job search portal Jobseem:
- Global Hire Placement Services, Edmonton.
- Hays – Recruitment Agency Calgary, Calgary.
- Canadian International Recruitment Services Inc, Toronto.
- Canadian Staffing Consultants Ltd, Markham.
- Hays – Recruitment Agency, Tronoto.
- ERSC Inc. (Employment and Recruitment Services of Canada), North York.
- Work Global Canada Inc, St. John’s.
- Canadian Staffing Services, Etobicoke.
- Global Hire Placement Services, Calgary.
- Goldbeck Recruiting, Vancouver.
- International Labor Center & Immigration Recruitment Services Canada Inc, Saskatoon.
- Renard International Hospitality Search Consultants, Toronto.
- QForce Canada, Employment Job Placement Agency, Whitby.
- Island Recruiting, Charlottetown.
- Angus One Professional Recruitment Ltd, Vancouver.
- TEKsystems, Burnaby.
- WorkVantage, Edmonton.
- Petro Staff International, Calgary.
- Hays-Recruitment Agency Vancouver, Vancouver.
- Planet4iT Recruitment Agency, Toronto.
Domestic recruiters can also help you find work in Canada, but it is important to choose companies that already have experience in Canadian employment. Well-known recruitment agencies in the CIS:
- MV Group;
- GlobalStaf;
- Rospersonal;
- International Employment Center ILC.
Which province is better to work in?
Each of Canada’s provinces has something to offer job seekers, but 6 destinations are most suitable for labor migrants from the CIS:
- Ontario. Toronto is home to one of the largest labor markets in the country, home to the publishing and media industries and the headquarters of major companies. Ontario has a large immigrant population, making it easy to find co-workers and employers who speak the same language. This is convenient for those who are just starting to adapt to the country.
- British Columbia. Like Ontario, there is a large immigrant population and significant labor demand. According to the local press, the province is most experiencing a shortage of teachers – even the possibility of hiring teachers without certificates is being considered.
- Nova Scotia. The province is part of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project. The program’s role is to attract more skilled workers to Nova Scotia and other maritime provinces by reducing processing times to 6 months and helping immigrants connect with employers.
- Alberta. Home to major cities like Edmonton and Calgary, there are many high-tech, oil sands and energy jobs available. In 2017, the province announced a program that streamlines the hiring process for skilled immigrants and promises to get them jobs faster.
- New Brunswick. The province is a participant in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program and is actively seeking to attract skilled workers to the area. There are many industries developed here, including tourism and manufacturing. New Brunswick is also home to Irving Oil Ltd., one of the country’s largest energy companies and a major employer of locals and immigrants.
- Quebec. The province’s metropolis, Montreal, attracts many immigrants and is investing in finding new skilled workers. With unemployment rates at 3% in some areas of the province, there is a strong job market and plenty of jobs to fill.
How to get a job officially
You can start earning money in Canada legally after completing the following steps:
- Select a vacancy. When looking for a job, it is important to understand whether the professional qualities meet the requirements of the vacancy in Canada.
- Compose a resume and send it to the employer.
- Get an assessment of your current level of knowledge of English or French, enroll in courses and take a test (it is impossible to get a job without knowing the official language of Canada).
- Obtain a work permit.
- Collect the package of documents required to open a work visa.
- Find a place to stay.
All job applicants in Canada can take advantage of the free government assistance service Pre-arrival services – the so-called “pre-arrival services”. Consultants help:
- prepare for moving to Canada;
- obtain recognition of education, work experience and qualifications;
- find suitable employers.
Obtaining a work permit
Most people wishing to enter the Canadian labor market require a work permit. Typically, this is a two-step process:
- Applying for a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The analysis is carried out by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) at the request of the employer.
- Request for work permit. Once a positive LMIA is issued, the applicant can apply to the Canadian Embassy to obtain permission to work in the country. The applicant will need a job offer letter, employer contract, copy and LMIA number.
Work permits in Canada can be:
- Closed. As a rule, the Work Permit document in Canada indicates both the position and the employer, which limits the owner’s freedom to choose a workplace for the duration of his stay in Canada.
- Open. This work permit differs from a closed one in that it does not indicate a specific position or employer. Such a document allows its owner to work in any Canadian company in any position.
According to Canadian immigration rules, open work permits can be obtained by:
- spouses or civil partners of temporary foreign workers with an occupation level 0, A or B according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
- spouses or civil partners of foreign students studying on a full-time basis;
- international students who have recently graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Additionally, all Canadian work permits have an expiration date. The only way to work in Canada permanently or indefinitely is to obtain permanent residence status .