An announcement that caused a real shock among the organizations dedicated to helping temporary workers, who were only informed a few days before the measure came into force.
What's changing and why
As of February 1, 2025, temporary foreign workers and their spouses in Quebec will no longer be eligible for public employment assistance services, with the exception of foreign students with a post-graduation work permit. This decision, announced with very short notice, has generated strong reactions among the organizations that support this population. These services were essential to help these workers integrate into the Quebec job market, in particular by training them on local practices, helping them write adapted CVs and offering them tools to build their professional network.
The Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity (MESS) justifies this measure by a change in the economic situation. With an increase in the unemployment rate, the government believes that employers can now recruit from the workforce already present in Quebec.
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The crucial role of foreign workers
When we talk about temporary foreign workers, we often think of sectors like agriculture, restaurants or construction. These jobs are essential to keeping the economy going, but let's be honest: they are not always the most attractive positions for the local workforce. And that's where foreign workers come in. They fill these needs with an efficiency that is often lacking. But beyond the numbers and statistics, there is a human reality. These people arrive here with the hope of a better life or simply to provide for their families back home. They must adapt to a different culture, learn a new language and navigate a sometimes complex system. Employment assistance played a key role in this adaptation.
Why is employment assistance so important?
Imagine arriving in a new country where you don’t know the cultural codes or professional expectations. How do you write your CV? How do you prepare for an interview? Where do you look for a job that matches your skills? That’s where employment services come in.
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These programs did not just provide generic advice. They provided concrete help to foreign workers to understand the Quebec job market and integrate into it. Without them, many risk finding themselves lost or worse, exploited in precarious conditions.
Reactions to this decision
Obviously, this announcement did not leave everyone indifferent. Organizations that support immigrants were among the first to react. For them, this decision is not only unfair but also counterproductive. Some even claim that up to 70 % of their users are temporary foreign workers! So imagine the impact this could have on their mission.
On the employers' side, there is also discontent. Several sectors depend heavily on this workforce to function properly. If these workers now struggle to integrate or decide to go elsewhere (because yes, they have a choice), this could further complicate the task of companies already short of staff.
And then there are the workers themselves. For many, this announcement is a blow. Not only are they losing valuable support, but they may also feel less welcome here.
Number of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) participating in employment measures and services
Analysis of graphs and data shows a significant change in the participation of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in employment measures and services in Quebec between 2019 and 2025.
1. Evolution of the number of participations
- In 2019-20, only 1,288 TETs participated in employment measures. This figure has steadily increased to a peak of 3,472 in 2022-23, an increase of almost 170 % compared to 2019-20.
- However, after this peak, a sharp drop is observed: participations fall to 1,544 in 2023-2024, then to only 617 as of November 12, 2024.
2. Percentage of total participations
- The proportion of TETs among all beneficiaries of employment measures follows a similar trend. It increases from 0.3 % in 2019-2020 to a maximum of 0.9 % in 2022-2023.
- After this peak, the percentage decreases rapidly to 0.4 % in 2023-2024 and reaches a low level of 0.2 % for the current year (2024-2025).
