What is the change? Canada has updated prevailing wage rates for a number of occupations.

What does the change mean? Employers sponsoring foreign workers in certain work permit and permanent resident categories are affected by the new rates.

  • Implementation time frame: Ongoing. Recently filed applications must be supported by the new prevailing wage rates.
  • Visas/permits affected: Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs); Intra-Company Transferees (ICTs) – Specialized Knowledge work permit category; Global Talent Stream LMIA; Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Intra-corporate Specialist category; Employer-sponsored Provincial Nominee Program categories for permanent residence.
  • Who is affected: Employers sponsoring foreign nationals in the above categories.
  • Business impact: Businesses may need to adjust their budgets to account for the changes to the prevailing wage rates. In some cases, prevailing wages increased compared with last year’s wages; however, in other cases they decreased.
  • Next steps: Employers can check the new prevailing wage rates for specific jobs on Canada’s Jobs Bank website.

Background: Prevailing wage rates will vary by occupation as well as by geographic location. The median wage in some of the more common positions held by foreign workers are as follows:

  NOC 0213 –Internet systems administrator NOC 2171 –  IT (information technology) consultant NOC 2172 – Database analyst NOC 2173 – Computer software engineer NOC 2174 – Personal computer (PC) application developer
Ontario $51.28/hour $40.00/hour $34.36/hour $45.67/hour $38.46/hour
British Columbia $43.27/hour $38.97/hour $31.25/hour $38.46/hour $35.19/hour
Quebec $47.94/hour $36.26/hour $34.36/hour $40.87/hour $30.77/hour
Alberta $54.30/hour $41.83/hour $42.38/hour $49.04/hour $36.06/hour

Analysis & Comments: Employers are encouraged to review the wages they are paying foreign workers to ensure they are in compliance with new wage minimums. It is possible that officials may ask for employers to amend pending applications so that offers of employment match the new wage requirements. Employers should also note that other wage floors may apply in some circumstances, such as for workers in the Global Talent Stream.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.