Quebec’s temporary worker population has quadrupled in eight years, from 43,770 in 2015 to 167,435 in 2023, according to the Institut du Quebec (IDQ). Most come through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP). The manufacturing, retail trade, and restaurant sectors are the largest employers of these workers, while construction, healthcare and social services have fewer due to overseas recruitment challenges. In 2023, temporary workers made up three percent of Quebec’s workforce. IDQ director Emna Braham credits them for addressing labour shortages and increasing the province’s workforce, particularly in the past year. In Q4 of last year, Quebec’s temporary resident count hit a record 528,034.
