According to Statistics Canada, only three industries accounted for more than 40% of all foreign temporary workers in recent years.
According to a study included in a series of economic and social reports released this month by Statistics Canada, the employment of temporary foreign workers in Canada has become increasingly concentrated in sectors that offer low-paying jobs.
According to the study, only three industries accounted for more than 40% of all temporary foreign workers in recent years: accommodation and food services, retail trade, and administrative and support, waste management, and remediation services.
When COVID-19 pandemic restrictions affected work in accommodation and food services, this proportion increased from 33% in 2010 to 45% in 2019 and 43% in 2020.
“Different industrial sectors rely on temporary foreign workers to varying degrees due to unique levels of labour shortages and specific skill requirements,” Statistics Canada authors Yuqian Lu and Feng Hou wrote in their report.
According to the report, the increased concentration in those three low-paying sectors is due to a large increase in the number of work and study permit holders, who are increasingly taking jobs in those sectors.
From 2010 to 2019, the number of temporary foreign worker permit holders remained relatively stable, while those working in the three sectors decreased from 23% to 14%.
In comparison, those with work permits under the international mobility programme nearly tripled during that time period. The proportion of those employed in the three sectors increased slightly from 42% to 45%.
Meanwhile, the number of study permit holders reporting employment income has increased ninefold, and the proportion working in the three sectors has increased from 12% to 65%.
Aside from these three industries, temporary foreign workers were also employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; manufacturing; professional, scientific, and technical services; and educational services.
In 2010, these industries employed approximately 31% of the total workforce, but this figure is expected to fall to 28% by 2020.