Key Takeaways
• U.S. citizens with Canadian temporary work permits dropped from 70,420 in 2013 to 38,867 in 2023.
• U.S. non-citizen residents receiving Canadian work permits rose from 3,728 in 2010 to 17,353 in 2023.
• Canada aims to reduce temporary residents from 6.5% to 5% of total population by 2026.
A recent Statistics Canada report shines a light on changing patterns of temporary foreign workers between the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦. The report covers data from 2010 through 2023 and shows clear trends and important changes. In the past, many U.S. citizens would go to Canada with temporary work permits every year, but that number is falling. At the same time, there are now more non-citizens living in the United States who are obtaining Canadian work permits than before. This shift has led to changes in earnings, the makeup of the temporary workforce, and has implications for both immigration policies and labor markets in North America.
Summary of Key Findings
The most important findings from the report include:
– There is a steady decline in the number of U.S. citizens working in Canada on temporary permits.
– More and more U.S. non-citizen residents (people living in the United States but not U.S. citizens) are getting work permits for Canada.
– The way people get into Canada for work—from permits based on international agreements to the International Mobility Program—has changed.
– On average, U.S. non-citizen residents working in Canada earn more than U.S. citizens and temporary workers from other countries.
– While the number of U.S. temporary workers is down, the overall number of temporary foreign workers in Canada keeps growing.
– Canada plans to reduce the proportion of temporary foreign residents as part of immigration changes coming soon.
U.S. Citizens Working Temporarily in Canada: The Downward Trend
From 2010 to 2023, the number of U.S. citizens using temporary work permits in Canada dropped a lot. In 2013, there were 70,420 American citizens working temporarily in Canada. By 2023, that number was down to just 38,867. This means there was a loss of 22,831 U.S. citizen workers compared to the numbers in 2010. The decrease has continued for several years. Fewer U.S. citizens are seeking—or getting—these temporary permits.
Figure Description: If one were to look at a line chart, the line representing U.S. citizens with work permits in Canada would peak in 2013 and then fall steadily to 2023.
This drop is important because it shows fewer Americans are choosing, or are able, to take up temporary jobs in Canada 🇨🇦. The causes for this dip are not explained in detail in the current report but could include changes in American domestic opportunities, tighter Canadian immigration rules for certain jobs, or other factors.
Rise of U.S. Non-Citizen Residents Seeking Canadian Work Permits
While fewer U.S. citizens are entering Canada as temporary workers, there is a rise in non-citizens living in the United States who gain Canadian work permits. This group grew from only 3,728 in 2010 to 17,353 in 2023. That’s an increase of more than four times over 13 years.
In 2010, these non-citizen residents made up just 6% of all work permit holders coming from the United States. By 2023, they made up 31% of the total U.S.-affiliated temporary foreign workers in Canada. This means that nearly one-third of people coming from the United States 🇺🇸 to work in Canada 🇨🇦 on temporary permits are non-citizens.
Figure Description: If shown on a pie chart for 2010, only a small slice (6%) would be labeled “U.S. non-citizen residents.” For 2023, this slice would have increased to nearly one-third (31%).
There are many possible reasons behind this growth. Non-citizen residents of the United States might find it easier or more appealing to work in Canada compared to getting permanent residency or citizenship in the United States, or they may face more barriers to good jobs at home. Policy changes in Canada or shifts in labor demand may also draw these workers north.
Change in the Mix of U.S.-Origin Temporary Workers
Adding together both U.S. citizens and non-citizen residents, the overall number of temporary foreign workers from the United States 🇺🇸 entering Canada 🇨🇦 has declined. In 2010, there were 65,426 such workers, but by 2023, the number stood at 56,220—a reduction of 9,206.
Figure Description: A bar graph tracking total temporary foreign workers from the United States in Canada would show the bar shrinking from 2010 to 2023, even as the makeup of who is in that group changes (more non-citizens, fewer citizens).
This shift is important for both the Canadian workforce and for the communities these workers join. It changes not just the numbers, but also the cultural and practical needs in workplaces and neighborhoods.
How Do U.S. Workers Now Enter Canada? Evolving Pathways
The ways in which people from the United States come to work temporarily in Canada 🇨🇦 are different than before. In the earlier part of the last decade, almost half of U.S. citizens with Canadian permits got their jobs through international deals like NAFTA (now CUSMA), which allow professionals and certain skilled workers to cross borders more easily.
As of 2023, just 5% of this group come through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which is normally stricter and designed to fill shortages for jobs where qualified Canadians are hard to find. The rest now mostly use the International Mobility Program (IMP). The IMP is more flexible and covers jobs that support Canada’s overall interests, like trade and international relations, not just labor shortages.
The switch from TFWP to mostly IMP means Canada is using more flexible ways to let in temporary foreign workers, at least from the United States 🇺🇸.
Earnings: Who Makes What
Earnings tell their own story. According to the report, U.S. non-citizen residents who receive temporary work permits in Canada make more money than other groups. Their reported median, or middle, yearly earnings (adjusted so all jobs are full-year and full-time) were $107,600. U.S. citizens working temporarily in Canada earned $75,900. Temporary workers from other countries earned $42,500.
Figure Description: Imagine a basic column chart with three bars: one for U.S. non-citizen residents ($107,600), one for U.S. citizens ($75,900), one for all other countries ($42,500). The bar for U.S. non-citizen residents would be much taller.
The difference in pay could be tied to jobs and sectors, types of permits used, experience, or other factors, but the report’s numbers make clear that non-citizens from the United States, on average, are earning most. This also suggests Canada might be attracting or selecting more experienced or in-demand workers from this group.
Growth in Canada’s Total Temporary Foreign Worker Numbers
While numbers from the United States 🇺🇸 are falling, the big story is that total temporary foreign worker numbers in Canada 🇨🇦 are up a lot. In 2011, there were 356,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada. By 2021, that number had grown to 845,000—an increase of 489,000 workers in only a decade.
Figure Description: On a line graph, the line would start at 356,000 in 2011 and rise sharply to 845,000 in 2021.
Temporary foreign workers now make up a bigger share of the workforce, too. In 2011, they made up just under 2% of all paid workers in Canada. By 2021, that share had more than doubled to over 4%. In simple terms, more than one in twenty people with paid jobs in Canada in 2021 was there on a temporary foreign permit.
This trend has drawn attention from both worker rights groups and policy makers. It means temporary foreign workers play a big role in businesses and communities across the country.
Planned Changes: Canada’s Temporary Foreign Resident Reductions
In response to the sharp rise in temporary foreign workers, the Canadian government has made clear it wants to bring the numbers down. Canada announced plans to reduce the proportion of temporary residents, which include all foreign nationals residing temporarily in the country, from 6.5% of Canada’s total population to 5% by the year 2026. This is a substantial drop.
The government set a 2025 target for the TFWP at 82,000 entries, not including seasonal workers. These goals are part of a wider strategy to manage population growth, reduce pressure on housing and services, and keep the immigration system in balance.
Policy and Broader Context
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these trends mirror both shifting immigration rules in Canada and changes to U.S. immigration policy, as well as the wider job markets in both countries. For example, Canada’s use of more flexible work permit programs may make it easier for certain workers to come for short periods, but its new efforts to limit total numbers show a shift towards tighter controls.
The increase in non-citizen U.S. residents getting Canadian work permits may connect to U.S. rules making permanent residence or even certain jobs harder to access for some foreign nationals. Thus, workers who have a legal right to live but not always to work in the United States might look north for better temporary job options.
On the other hand, Canada is facing questions about how many temporary foreign workers its economy and society can absorb, especially at a time of high demand for affordable housing and public services.
Potential Limitations and Data Bias
It is important to remember that the data is based on official permits issued and does not capture every form of work. The numbers count legal, documented temporary foreign workers, but there may also be people working informally, or waiting for paperwork to finish. The data for 2023 may also still be adjusted as late applications are processed or paper records enter official counts.
The report also doesn’t provide details by sector, such as which jobs or regions see the biggest rises and falls. It groups all “U.S. non-citizen residents” together, though they may come from many different backgrounds.
Why This Matters
Understanding these trends is important for people considering moving for work, for businesses who need to hire, and for governments planning for future growth. The changes in who comes to Canada, and how, affect pay, job competition, and the makeup of Canadian towns and cities.
For U.S. citizens and U.S. non-citizen residents thinking about work in Canada, it is wise to check which permit path is most open at any given time. For employers, these trends make it necessary to pay attention to policy changes by both the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦.
Where to Learn More
For those interested in learning more about the types of work permits available or the process to hire or become a temporary foreign worker in Canada, the official Canadian government’s temporary foreign worker program page provides detailed and updated information.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Over the past decade, the profile of temporary foreign workers coming from the United States 🇺🇸 to Canada 🇨🇦 has changed. Fewer Americans are working temporarily in Canada, but more non-citizen residents of the United States are making the move and often in higher paying roles. At the same time, Canada’s temporary foreign worker population overall has risen sharply, though the government now aims to reduce these numbers.
What happens next is likely to depend on changes in rules on both sides of the border, shifts in economic demand, and choices made by workers themselves. For now, the trend is clear: Canada is still a strong draw for many, but the path and the makeup of those making the move is different than in years past.
If you are thinking of employment in Canada or seeking up-to-date information on temporary foreign workers, professional sources like VisaVerge.com and official Canadian government resources should always be your first stops. The story of cross-border work between the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 is changing, and it is wise to stay informed as policies and opportunities evolve.
Learn Today
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) → A Canadian government program allowing employers to hire foreign nationals for temporary jobs when there are labor shortages.
International Mobility Program (IMP) → Canadian work permit program for jobs that advance Canadian interests, often bypassing labor market impact assessments.
Non-citizen Resident → A person living legally in the United States without U.S. citizenship, such as Green Card holders or visa holders.
CUSMA (formerly NAFTA) → Trade agreement between Canada, U.S., Mexico that facilitates work permits for professionals and skilled workers among the three countries.
Median Earnings → A statistical measure showing the middle value of annual earnings for a group, giving a typical income level.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s temporary foreign worker landscape is shifting. Fewer U.S. citizens are working temporarily in Canada, yet more U.S. non-citizen residents are earning Canadian permits—often with higher pay. Policy updates will further limit temporary entries, making it vital for workers and employers to monitor changing rules and evolving opportunities.
— By VisaVerge.com
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