Foreign Interest in Canadian Jobs Has Dropped by More Than Half Since 2023: Indeed Study

A report published in October found that job seekers outside Canada accounted for nearly 8 percent of clicks on Canadian job postings in July 2023. By September 2026, that share had dropped to just 3 percent.

The decline coincides with the government’s efforts to reduce temporary immigration to Canada.

While the changes are helping Canada reduce immigration numbers, they could also make it harder for employers to find workers. This could also lead to slower economic growth and reduced interest in Canada as a destination.

Key Takeaways

• Foreign interest in Canadian jobs has fallen by more than half since 2023, according to Indeed Hiring Lab.
• International student and temporary foreign worker restrictions have coincided with the sharp decline.
• Engineering, agriculture, and forestry have experienced large drops in foreign job seeker interest.
• Lower immigration can make Canada less attractive to international talent and make hiring harder.

How Much Has Foreign Interest in Canadian Jobs Declined?

Indeed Hiring Lab analyzed the share of clicks on Canadian job postings coming from people outside Canada.

The research covered job seekers in 254 countries, using IP addresses to determine their locations.

Foreign interest in Canadian jobs increased significantly between 2021 and 2023. It reached a peak of nearly 8 percent of all clicks in July 2023.

However, that trend has since reversed.

By September 2026, only 3 percent of clicks on Canadian job postings came from outside the country. This shows a decline of more than 60 percent in the foreign share.

To clarify, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the total number of foreign job seekers has fallen by the same percentage. They measure foreign clicks as a proportion of all clicks on Canadian job postings.

Still, Indeed’s job-search data has previously been shown to track international migration patterns. The company suggests that the decline could signal further reductions in arrivals to Canada.

Are Canada’s Immigration Restrictions Driving the Decline?

The sharp drop in foreign job seeker interest coincides with major changes to Canada’s immigration policies.

In January 2024, the federal government introduced a cap on international study permit applications. Initially, Canada aimed to reduce approved permits by 35 percent compared with 2023.

The cap was subsequently tightened. Restrictions were also introduced for temporary foreign workers and certain open work permit holders.

Starting in 2024, Canada began setting targets for temporary residents under its Immigration Levels Plan. Previously, IRCC only had targets for permanent resident admissions.

These changes have reduced international student and foreign worker arrivals in Canada.

The impact is also visible in population figures.

According to Indeed, non-permanent residents added more than 308,000 people to Canada’s population in a single quarter in 2023.

However, that trend has since reversed. Indeed found that the number of non-permanent residents fell in five of the seven quarters through mid-2026.

Figures from Statistics Canada confirm this decline. Canada had approximately 2.78 million non-permanent residents on July 1, 2026, down by nearly 155,000 from a year earlier.

While immigration restrictions may not be the only reason for the drop in foreign job interest, the timing suggests they have played a role.

Canadian Industries Seeing the Biggest Declines in Foreign Interest

The decline in foreign interest has affected all occupational sectors. Some have experienced much sharper drops than others.

According to Indeed, the occupations with the largest decreases in foreign click share between Q3 2023 and Q3 2026 include:

• Agriculture and forestry
• Civil engineering
• Chemical engineering
• Electrical engineering

Agriculture and forestry recorded the largest decline, at 10.9 percentage points.

The trend is particularly concerning for engineering occupations. Despite the decline in foreign interest, demand for workers in these fields appears to be increasing.

Indeed’s Job Postings Index shows that postings for civil, electrical, and industrial engineering positions remain well above the overall Canadian job postings index.

Some of this increased demand may be due to the expansion of data centres across Canada.

But with fewer foreign workers showing interest, employers may find it harder to fill these vacancies.

Industries that have typically relied on foreign workers and students may also face hiring challenges. These include accommodation and food services, retail, and agriculture.

Interest in Canadian Jobs Declining Among Americans

The report also shows a change in where foreign job seekers interested in Canada are coming from.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Americans accounted for 28 percent of all foreign clicks on Canadian job postings.

By the third quarter of 2026, their share had fallen to 21 percent.

This decline coincides with worsening trade relations between Canada and the United States. While correlated, trade relations may not necessarily be why Americans are less interested in Canadian jobs.

Meanwhile, Asia continues to account for the largest share of foreign interest in Canadian jobs. In fact, Indeed found that Asia has accounted for a larger share of foreign clicks than the US since early 2018.

Interest from African countries is also becoming more prominent. For example, Nigeria accounted for almost 5 percent of foreign clicks in Q3 2026, compared with a negligible share in 2017.

This suggests that the geographic composition of Canada’s potential international workforce may be changing.

Could Canada’s Immigration Cuts Have Long-Term Economic Consequences?

Canada introduced immigration restrictions partly to reduce pressure on housing, public services, and infrastructure.

Fewer newcomers would supposedly help ease some of these pressures.

However, the report warns that lower immigration could also have broader economic consequences.

Many employers depend on international students and temporary foreign workers to fill jobs.

If fewer workers come to Canada, some businesses may struggle to hire enough staff. Yes, even when unemployment is high in other parts of the economy.

Slower population growth could also reduce consumer spending, affecting all businesses.

Communities with large international student populations may be particularly vulnerable. Fewer students might mean less demand for accommodation, groceries, transportation, and other services.

There is also a longer-term concern about Canada’s international reputation.

If potential immigrants see Canada as a less welcoming destination, they may choose other countries instead.

Even if Canada eventually relaxes immigration policies, it could take time to restore confidence among prospective workers and PRs.

Policymakers must balance sustainable population growth with the need for workers in critical occupations.

Indeed’s report suggests that Canada’s immigration restrictions may be helping reduce arrivals, but they could also make it harder to fill important jobs in the years ahead.