Amidst the ongoing labour shortage, employers in just about every industry are facing significant challenges in filling critical positions within their companies. In today’s competitive job market, offering generous employee benefits plays a crucial role in attracting the best and most talented candidates. Offering immigration benefits can help you overcome labour shortages and fill positions with qualified and dedicated employees while also ensuring foreign worker retention rates stay high.
Having little success finding workers locally to fill jobs, many companies are broadening their search to hire foreign workers and are offering immigration benefits to their list of offerings.
At Ackah Business Immigration Law, we provide the experienced, professional legal guidance you need in putting these benefits in place. Our Calgary immigration lawyer explains more about this trend and the advantages for Canadian employers in using immigration benefits to attract and retain qualified foreign workers.
U.S. Employers Using Immigration Benefits To Attract Workers
Employers in the United States have been hit hard by labour shortages. Unable to find willing and qualified workers, many companies have had to reduce output and operating hours. In some cases, staffing challenges have forced some out of business altogether.
To combat worker shortages, increasing numbers of U.S. employers are using immigration benefits to attract foreign workers. According to a June 2022 Bloomberg report, business owners and government officials see foreign workers as a key to meeting unprecedented labour demands.
Amazon.com is at the forefront of this movement. The company is targeting refugees, asylum seekers, and other humanitarian-based immigrants with its Welcome Door program. The goal is to attract the most qualified workers in a competitive job market. Along with hiring new workers, the company also hopes to boost foreign worker retention rates. Among the immigration benefits offered through the program include:
Reimbursement for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), which cost an average of $500 every other year;
A Citizenship Assistance Portal, which provides support for qualified candidates in filing applications;
Free legal resources to navigate immigration-related issues;
Educational and training opportunities, including free college tuition and English as a second language (ESL) classes;
Mentorship programs to assist in career development;
Ongoing communications regarding immigration issues that could impact employees.
Currently offered only in the U.S., Amazon’s Welcome Door program is set to expand to other countries in the near future, including Canada.
Immigration Benefits and Canadian Employers
The United States is not the only country struggling with labour shortages. According to Statistics Canada, close to one million job positions are currently vacant. Unfortunately, industry experts predict ongoing delays in hiring, meaning that many of these positions are likely to remain unfilled for months at a time. Employers that have been able to hire workers in such a competitive job market often have to either lower qualifications or the job requirements.
Some of the top Canadian companies have begun offering immigration benefits to overcome this problem. These include:
Google Canada:
With offices in Toronto and other provinces throughout Canada, Google uses immigration benefits to attract talent and increase foreign worker retention rates.P&H Farming:
Parrish and Heimbecker Limited, otherwise known as P&H Farming, has been a leader in the Canadian agribusiness industry for over 100 years. The company has begun offering sponsorship and relocation assistance for some positions to remain competitive in attracting employees.Royal Bank of Canada:
RBC’s Newcomers To Canada program offers paid internship and mentoring partnerships to assist recent immigrants and increase foreign worker retention rates.Scotiabank:
Scotiabank offers a host of immigrant benefits for prospective employees and anyone who is a newcomer to the country. Training programs, pre-approved bank accounts, and affordable loans help attract talent from other countries and increase foreign worker retention rates.
Offering Immigration Benefits To Attract And Retain Foreign Workers
Offering immigration benefits can help Canadian companies and Global Employment Recruiters stay ahead and increase foreign worker retention rates in a competitive job market. The following are some basic tips to guide you in creating this type of benefit package:
Determine whether you will need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire foreign workers. This certifies the need for foreign workers to fill specific jobs.
If cases where workers may be exempt from LMIA requirements, provide job offer information directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Consider what essential skills are required by foreign workers and what support services they are likely to need, such as ongoing training, mentorship, and ESL classes;
Provide diversity and cross-cultural training to all members of your company, making everyone aware of the value foreign workers bring to your business;
Discuss Your Options With An Experienced Calgary Immigration Lawyer
In today’s competitive job market, offering immigration benefits can help fill positions with your company and increase foreign worker retention rates. To find out more about what is involved in the process and to discuss the options in your particular case, reach out to Ackah Business Immigration Law. Give our office a call at (403) 452-9515 or contact our Calgary immigration lawyer online to book a consultation today.
