An Introductory Analysis of the Link Between Temporary Foreign Workers, Regional Unemployment Rates and Employment Insurance,

Abstract

The temporary foreign worker program has seen significant growth since the expansion of the program in 2002 and continues to remain a dominant aspect of the Canadian Labour Market. The entry of temporary foreign workers is providing Canadian employers with a dependent source of labour that requires minimal training and low wages. This paper examines the relationship between temporary foreign workers and the unemployment rates in each Employment Insurance economic region. The results suggest that the program is not totally perverse, but many dimensions of the program still require further analysis.