Canada’s immigration department has unveiled significant policy changes to bolster the country’s construction industry.
Key updates include:
- Allocating immigration spots for up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers already in Canada.
- Enabling eligible temporary foreign workers to enroll in apprenticeship programs without needing a study permit.
Canada Announces Immigration Reforms to Strengthen the Construction Industry
On March 7, 2025, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced significant immigration policy changes aimed at supporting Canada’s construction sector. Speaking at a press conference in Woodbridge, Ontario, Miller outlined measures designed to address ongoing labor shortages in the industry.
Key Changes:
- New Permanent Residency Pathway: Up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers in Canada will be granted immigration spaces.
- Study Permit Exemption: Effective immediately, qualified temporary foreign workers can enroll in apprenticeship programs without requiring a study permit. Previously, most foreign nationals were unable to apply for study permits from within Canada.
While the government has not yet specified when the permanent residency pathway will take effect or detailed its eligibility criteria, IRCC has published eligibility guidelines for the study permit exemption.
Advisory Council on Construction
Miller also announced the formation of a new advisory council to guide federal policy on construction labor. Comprising representatives from government, unions, and industry employers, the council is expected to convene as early as next week. Its mandate includes:
- Advising on prevailing wages
- Recommending the number of foreign construction workers to be admitted
Additionally, Miller stated that Canada may admit up to 14,000 foreign construction workers, though it remains unclear whether this figure includes permanent or temporary workers, or a combination of both.
Addressing Labor Shortages
Canada’s construction sector has long struggled with labor shortages, exacerbating the country’s housing crisis. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that an additional 6 million homes must be built by 2030 to restore housing affordability—underscoring the urgent need for skilled tradespeople.
As Miller noted, “…as hard as we try, we cannot train them [skilled trades and construction workers] here in Canada.” Data from Statistics Canada reveals that immigrants already comprise 23% of general contractors and residential builders in the country’s residential construction sector.
One key driver behind these changes is the limited capacity of current immigration pathways to meet the labor market’s demand for skilled trades workers.
Updates to Express Entry for Trades
On February 27, 2025, IRCC introduced major updates to the Express Entry system, reinforcing its commitment to attracting construction professionals. These changes include:
- Prioritizing trade occupations in Express Entry invitations
- Expanding the trades category with 19 new eligible occupations
With these reforms, Canada aims to ensure a steady influx of skilled workers to sustain its construction industry and tackle its housing crisis.
Among the added occupations were several construction occupations including:
- Construction managers;
- Construction estimators;
- Bricklayers;
- Roofers and shinglers;
- Floor covering installers; and
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators).
For a full account of which occupations are now included in Express Entry’s trade category, visit our dedicated webpage.
Previous measures for out-of-status construction workers
The regularisation pathway announced today for out-of-status construction workers aims to build on previous measures IRCC has established for this group.
In January of 2020, IRCC first implemented a temporary public policy, allowing construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) who had lost their work status to apply and potentially gain Canadian permanent residence. This policy was extended multiple times before finally expiring on December 31, 2024.
This policy was implemented in recognition of Canada’s systemic labour shortages in the construction industry, and the value that these workers provide to it.
As of November 2024, approximately 1,365 out-of-status construction workers (including principal applicants and their dependants) have received permanent residence through this pathway.
2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan
Housing concerns have continued to be a central issue in Canada and have had a pronounced impact on the country’s immigration landscape.
At the announcement of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Miller cited housing supply as one of the key reasons for the government’s decision to reduce immigration levels for both permanent residents, and temporary residents (international students and foreign workers).
Minister Miller speculated at the time that the planned reduction of temporary residents would free up an additional 670,000 housing units, adding these to the country’s available housing supply without the need for further investment.
Housing supply issues were also a primary factor behind the creation of the “In-Canada Focus” category within Canada’s federal immigration allocation. This category prioritizes the invitation of candidates already in-Canada and with Canadian work experience, to apply for permanent residence.
By establishing this category, IRCC hopes to meet its permanent resident landings target without adding to housing pressures by introducing a new entrant to the Canadian population. The immigration department plans have allocated the landing of 82,890 new immigrants through the “In-Canada Focus” target in 2025.
Canada announces new pathway to permanent residence for construction workers | CIC News
