Infographic: Immigration addresses Canada’s labour shortages

Number of work permits (excluding extensions) issued from January 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022

• Employer-specific work permits: Over 128,000
• Open work permits: Over 220,000
• Total: Over 349,000

Number of employer-specific work permits (excluding extensions) issued from January 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022, by province/territory of destination

• Alberta: 7,972
• British Columbia: 24,278
• Manitoba: 1,904
• New Brunswick: 3,058
• Newfoundland and Labrador: 1,376
• Northwest Territories: 50
• Nova Scotia: 3,691
• Nunavut: 34
• Ontario: 44,790
• Prince Edward Island: 1,110
• Quebec: 35,865
• Saskatchewan: 1,973
• Yukon: 188

IRCC processes work permits so that 1,700 new people can come work in Canada every day.

Open work permit holders can work anywhere in Canada in almost any occupation. Over 60% of the work permits we issue are open permits.