CANADA REVISES LOW-WAGE LMIA IN 8 REGIONS STARTING Q1/2026

Starting January 9, 2026, the Government of Canada officially resumed processing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) for low-wage streams in 8 regions (CMAs – Census Metropolitan Areas) across the country.
1. List of 8 areas to be reprocessed
These areas were previously paused for low-wage LMIA processing due to high unemployment rates (over 6%), but are now eligible again thanks to improvements in the local labor market:
• Vancouver, British Columbia (Tỷ lệ thất nghiệp giảm từ 6.8% xuống 5.9%)
• Winnipeg, Manitoba (7.3% xuống 5.7%)
• Halifax, Nova Scotia (6.1% xuống 5.2%)
• Montréal, Quebec (6.7% xuống 5.5%)
• Kingston, Ontario (6.6% xuống 5.6%)
• Moncton, New Brunswick (7.3% xuống 5.5%)
• Saint John, New Brunswick (7.3% xuống 5.8%)
• Fredericton, New Brunswick (6.7% xuống 5.2%)
2. Regulations on LMIA for low wages
Since August 2024, Canada has implemented a policy of stopping LMIA processing for low-wage positions in any region with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. The goal of this policy is to prioritize job opportunities for local residents and permanent residents.
• Definition of low pay: A job is considered 'low-paying' if the offered salary is less than 120% of the median wage of that province/state.
• Validity period: The list of eligible/ineligible areas will be reviewed quarterly. The next update is expected on April 10, 2026.
As of now, there are still 24 regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, and low-wage LMIA cases will continue to not be processed at least until April 2026. Some major cities on this list include:
• Toronto, Ontario (7.5%)
• Windsor, Ontario (10.6%)
• Edmonton, Alberta (6.9%)
• St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (7.1%)
If you are in an area where low-wage LMIA processing is still paused, you might consider the following options:
• Increase salary: If the salary is raised above the regulated threshold, the application may be moved to the "high-wage stream" – which is not limited by the 6% unemployment rate.
• Priority industries: Certain sectors such as agriculture, construction, food processing, and healthcare may be exempt from this suspension policy.
• Look for other areas: Redirect job searching to cities with lower unemployment rates (under 6%), such as the 8 regions recently reopened mentioned above.
Opportunities have arrived for immigration programs in these 8 regions. Message Aimmi now for more detailed advice!
Link: https://www.cicnews.com/2026/01/canada-to-start-processing-low-wage-lmias-in-more-regions-in-q1-2026-0164611.html