The debate over temporary foreign workers is back in the news. I have received a copy of the results of an Access to Information and Privacy Act request which shows the breakdown of admittance of foreign worker by year and occupation. (I am not publishing this document on my blog, however, if you want a copy feel free to e-mail me.)
The table below shows the breakdown in 2005 (the last year that the Liberal Party of Canada was in government) and 2011 (the most recent year available). That I have chosen these years of course has limitations in terms of detecting trends (who knows if an occupation had an “on” or “off” year?). However, the data is nonetheless interesting, and shows an explosion in the number of people in certain occupations.
| Occupation |
2005 |
2011 |
Percentage Change |
| Legislator and Senior Management |
1,205 |
2130 |
77% |
| Administrative Service Managers |
610 |
1005 |
65% |
| Managers in Financial and Business Services |
200 |
390 |
95% |
| Managers in Communication (Except Broadcasting) |
25 |
40 |
60% |
| Managers in Engineering, Architecture, Science and Information Systems |
610 |
1615 |
165% |
| Managers in Health, Education, Social and Community Services |
55 |
90 |
64% |
| Managers in Public Administration |
25 |
35 |
40% |
| Managers in Art, Culture, Recreation, and Sport |
95 |
145 |
53% |
| Sales, Marketing, and Advertising Managers |
630 |
810 |
29% |
| Managers in Retail Trade |
180 |
405 |
125% |
| Managers in Food Service and Accommodation |
570 |
535 |
-6% |
| Managers in Other Services |
50 |
55 |
10% |
| Managers in Construction and Transportation |
390 |
1000 |
156% |
| Facility Operation and Maintenance Managers |
95 |
190 |
100% |
| Managers in Primary Production (Except Agriculture) |
55 |
125 |
127% |
| Managers in Manufacturing and Utilities |
405 |
415 |
2% |
| Auditors, Accountants, and Investment Professionals |
1000 |
895 |
-11% |
| Human Resources and Business Services Professionals |
4415 |
6910 |
57% |
| Clerical Supervisors |
85 |
170 |
100% |
| Administrative and Regulatory Occupations |
410 |
720 |
76% |
| Finance and Insurance Administrative Occupations |
60 |
125 |
108% |
| Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists |
20 |
65 |
225% |
| Clerical Occupations, General Office Skills |
625 |
135 |
-78% |
| Office Equipment Operators |
15 |
15 |
0% |
| Finance and Insurance Clerks |
50 |
90 |
80% |
| Administrative Support Clerks |
70 |
65 |
-7% |
| Library, Correspondence and Related Information Clerks |
80 |
210 |
163% |
| Recording, Scheduling, and Distributing Occupations |
65 |
105 |
62% |
| Physical Science Professionals |
580 |
1170 |
102% |
| Life Science Professionals |
330 |
640 |
94% |
| Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineers |
2565 |
3540 |
38% |
| Other Engineers |
1610 |
2085 |
30% |
| Architects, Urban Planners, and Land Surveyors |
205 |
420 |
105% |
| Mathematicians, Statisticians, and Actuaries |
3020 |
910 |
-70% |
| Technical Occupations in Physical Sciences |
790 |
265 |
-66% |
| Technical Occupations in Life Sciences |
210 |
185 |
-12% |
| Technical Occupations in Civil, Mechanical, and Industrial Engineering |
890 |
1495 |
68% |
| Technical Occupations in Electronics and Electrical Engineering |
1325 |
2020 |
52% |
| Technical Occupations in Architecture, Drafting, Surveying and Mapping |
210 |
375 |
79% |
| Other Technical Inspectors and Regulatory Officers |
245 |
465 |
90% |
| Transportation Officers and Controllers |
550 |
735 |
34% |
| Physicians, Dentists and Veterinarians |
1370 |
1670 |
22% |
| Optometrists, Chiropractors and other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals |
25 |
55 |
120% |
| Pharmacists, Dietitians and Nutritionists |
105 |
65 |
-38% |
| Therapy and Assessment Professionals |
100 |
120 |
20% |
| Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses |
275 |
285 |
4% |
| Medical Technologists and Technicians |
65 |
95 |
46% |
| Technical Occupations in Dental Health |
40 |
45 |
13% |
| Other Technical Occupations in Health Case |
50 |
125 |
150% |
| Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Care |
20 |
75 |
275% |
| Judges, Lawyers, and Quebec Notaries |
90 |
140 |
56% |
| University Professors and Assistants |
4745 |
3985 |
-16% |
| College and Other Vocational Instructors |
540 |
505 |
-6% |
| Secondary and Elementary School Teachers and Educational Counselors |
265 |
325 |
23% |
| Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, Clergy, and Probation Officers |
385 |
315 |
-18% |
| Policy and Program Officers, Research and Consultants |
1040 |
985 |
-5% |
| Paralegals, Social Service Workers, and Occupations in Education and Religion |
940 |
1240 |
32% |
| Librarians, Archivists, Conservators, and Curators |
65 |
30 |
-54% |
| Writing, Translating, and Public Relations Professionals |
500 |
445 |
-11% |
| Creative and Performing Arts |
8110 |
4590 |
-43% |
| Technical Occupations in Libraries, Archives, Museums, and Art Galleries |
35 |
30 |
-14% |
| Photographers, Graphic Arts Technicians, and Technical and Coordinating Occupations |
2190 |
1435 |
-34% |
| Announcers and Other Performers |
1360 |
2470 |
82% |
| Creative Designers and Craftpersons |
510 |
785 |
54% |
| Athletes, Coaches, Referees, and Related Occupations |
2705 |
3065 |
13% |
| Sales and Service Supervisors |
110 |
560 |
409% |
| Technical Sales Specialists, Wholesale Trade |
130 |
205 |
58% |
| Insurance and Real Estate Sales Occupations and Buyers |
40 |
60 |
50% |
| Chefs and Cooks |
740 |
1995 |
170% |
| Butchers and Bakers |
125 |
240 |
92% |
| Police Officers and Firefighters |
15 |
15 |
0% |
| Technical Occupations in Personal Service |
55 |
100 |
82% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale Trade |
65 |
105 |
62% |
| Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks |
205 |
650 |
217% |
| Occupations in Travel and Accommodation |
245 |
185 |
-24% |
| Tour and Recreational Guides and Casino Occupations |
445 |
285 |
-36% |
| Occupations in Food and Beverage Service |
110 |
475 |
332% |
| Other Occupations in Protective Service |
5 |
25 |
400% |
| Childcare and Home Support Workers |
7275 |
6125 |
-16% |
| Other Occupations in Personal Service |
75 |
110 |
47% |
| Cashiers |
40 |
255 |
538% |
| Other Sales and Related Occupations |
110 |
225 |
105% |
| Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers, and Related Occupations |
135 |
2380 |
1663% |
| Security Guards and Related Occupations |
25 |
45 |
80% |
| Cleaners |
200 |
585 |
193% |
| Other Occupations in Travel, Accommodation, Amusement, and Recreation |
260 |
215 |
-17% |
| Other Elemental Service Occupations |
15 |
80 |
433% |
| Contractors and Supervisors, Trades and Related Workers |
500 |
875 |
75% |
| Supervisors, Railway and Motor Transportation Occupations |
20 |
40 |
100% |
| Machinists and Related Occupations |
210 |
185 |
-12% |
| Electrical Trades and Telecommunications Occupations |
245 |
485 |
98% |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Gas Fitters |
505 |
310 |
-39% |
| Metal Forming, Shaping, and Erecting Trades |
365 |
755 |
107% |
| Carpenters and Cabinet Makers |
495 |
755 |
53% |
| Masonry and Plastering Trades |
240 |
485 |
102% |
| Other Construction Trades |
280 |
565 |
102% |
| Machinery and Transportation Equipment Mechanics |
890 |
780 |
-12% |
| Automotive Service Technicians |
190 |
210 |
11% |
| Other Mechanics |
55 |
85 |
55% |
| Upholsterers, Tailors, Shoe Repairers, Jewelers, and Related Occupations |
55 |
65 |
18% |
| Stationary Engineers and Power Station and System Operators |
10 |
30 |
200% |
| Train Crew Operating Occupations |
35 |
25 |
-29% |
| Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters |
50 |
90 |
80% |
| Printing Press Operators, Commercial Drivers, and Other Trades and Related Occupations |
45 |
125 |
178% |
| Motor Vehicle and Transit Drivers |
590 |
1290 |
119% |
| Heavy Equipment Operators |
75 |
165 |
120% |
| Other Transport Equipment Operators and Related Workers |
555 |
385 |
-31% |
| Other Installers, Repairers, and Servicers |
235 |
410 |
74% |
| Longshore Workers and Material Handlers |
50 |
65 |
30% |
| Trades Helpers and Labourers |
210 |
410 |
95% |
| Public Works and Other Labourers |
65 |
55 |
-15% |
| Supervisors, Mining, Oil and Gas |
35 |
110 |
214% |
| Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers |
115 |
160 |
39% |
| Logging Machinery Operators |
10 |
5 |
-50% |
| Contractors, Operators, and Supervisors and Agriculture, Horticulture, and Aquaculture |
405 |
680 |
68% |
| Fishing Vessel Masters and Skippers and Fishermen/Women |
10 |
10 |
0% |
| Mine Service Workers and Operators in Oil and Gas |
50 |
15 |
-70% |
| Logging Machinery Operators |
15 |
5 |
-67% |
| Agrilcuture and Horticulture Workers |
20985 |
27545 |
31% |
| Other Fishing and Trapping Occupations |
5 |
0 |
-100% |
| Primary Production Laborers |
735 |
4050 |
451% |
| Supervisors, Processing Occupations |
65 |
120 |
85% |
| Supervisors, Assembly and Fabrication |
65 |
95 |
46% |
| Central Control and Process Operators in Manufacturing and Processing |
70 |
75 |
7% |
| Machine Operators and Related Workers in Metal and Mineral Products Processing |
15 |
60 |
300% |
| Machine Operators and Related Workers in Chemical, Plastic, and Rubber Processing |
15 |
30 |
100% |
| Machine Operators and Related Workers in Pulp and Paper Production and Wood Processing |
0 |
10 |
#DIV/0! |
| Machine Operators and Related Workers in Textile Processing |
25 |
0 |
-100% |
| Machine Operators and Related Workers in Fabric, Fur, and Leather Products Manufacturing |
0 |
10 |
#DIV/0! |
| Machine Operators and Related Workers in Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Processing |
260 |
805 |
210% |
| Printing Machine Operators and Related Occupations |
10 |
10 |
0% |
| Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics Assemblers |
60 |
95 |
58% |
| Other Assembly and Related Occupation |
70 |
135 |
93% |
| Machining, Metal Working, Wood working, and Related Machine Operators |
40 |
35 |
-13% |
| Laborers in Processing, Manufacturing, and Utilities |
520 |
655 |
26% |
| Investors |
0 |
30 |
#DIV/0! |
| Entrepreneur – Early Admission |
45 |
45 |
0% |
| Software Pilot |
450 |
1125 |
150% |
| Unconventional |
35 |
35 |
0% |
| Open Employment Authorization |
30290 |
60455 |
100% |
| New Worker |
210 |
1975 |
840% |
| Occupation Not Stated |
1180 |
13045 |
1006% |
| Total |
122,340 |
190665 |
56% |