Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Helping New Brunswick employers hire qualified foreign workers
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to obtain before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA confirms that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker is available. ESDC administers the LMIA process and assesses applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Program Streams
High-Wage Stream
For positions where the offered wage is at or above the provincial hourly wage threshold. In New Brunswick, the threshold is $30.00/hr (for LMIAs received between June 27, 2025 and July 16, 2026) and $31.73/hr (as of July 17, 2026). Requires a transition plan to reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers over time.
Low-Wage Stream
For positions where the offered wage is below the provincial hourly wage threshold. Subject to a cap on the proportion of low-wage TFWs an employer can hire. Employer must provide or arrange housing and cover transportation costs.
Global Talent Stream
A faster LMIA stream (10-business-day processing target) for employers hiring highly skilled foreign workers in specific in-demand occupations. Requires a Labour Market Benefits Plan demonstrating investment in the Canadian workforce.
Key Facts
- NB high-wage threshold: $30.00/hr (to July 16, 2026); $31.73/hr (from July 17, 2026)
- Employers must advertise the position to Canadians before applying for an LMIA
- A positive LMIA is valid for 18 months from the date of issue
- LMIA-supported job offers add 50–200 CRS points to an Express Entry profile
- Compliance inspections can occur — proper record-keeping is essential
Low-Wage LMIA: Unemployment Rate Cap
ESDC restricts low-wage LMIA applications in regions where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher. When a region's unemployment rate meets or exceeds this threshold, ESDC will refuse to process low-wage LMIA applications for most occupations in that region. This cap is reviewed and updated quarterly, based on Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey data. Employers should verify the current status of their region before applying.
Check current refusal-to-process regions on the ESDC websiteUpdated quarterly — check before submitting any low-wage LMIA application.