How foreign workers shape our economy

In-demand profiles for specialized, well-paid roles

Over 75% of surveyed companies reported relying on temporary foreign workers due to a lack of local expertise. Immigrants (both temporary and permanent) have driven all of Greater Montréal’s employment growth over the past decade, underscoring their critical role in job creation.

Three out of four companies also prefer hiring temporary skilled workers with at least five years of experience, which partly explains their higher salaries. These seasoned professionals typically take on supervisory responsibilities. In 2023, there were 6,890 of them in Montréal-based companies, earning an average annual salary of $83,362, well above the average income of Quebec workers ($62,673 in 2024).

Numbers that speak for themselves

This study highlights the significant economic contribution of these workers to Greater Montréal by revealing key data points:

• $1.4B contribution to GDP
• 11,000+ jobs supported
• $235M in tax and parafiscal revenues for Québec and Canada

Their productivity is impressive: $124,002 in added value per job, 19% higher than the average Québec worker!

Advantages that are too often overlooked

The impact of skilled TFWs goes far beyond filling vacancies. They deliver strategic benefits for businesses:

• A structural impact on high-tech industries: They strengthen the reputation for excellence in sectors such as aerospace, IT, and clean technologies.
• Knowledge transfer: A senior expert can train five or six junior employees, accelerating internal skill development.
• Global mobility: TFWs foster connections between innovation hubs worldwide, enriching local expertise and knowledge sharing.
• Cutting-edge practices: Workers from advanced markets introduce leading technologies and use cases.
• Scale-driven expertise: Professionals from large markets bring valuable experience with big data and high-volume operations, helping create better global products.

Skilled TFWs aren’t just a temporary fix. Their contribution is essential to Greater Montréal’s economy. Beyond that, it’s worth noting that more than half of the companies surveyed reported that all of their TFWs speak French. Our city’s culture and language also benefit greatly from them. As for employers, they clearly recognize their value: 87% want to keep at least 75% of their TFWs after their contracts end, and nearly two-thirds would retain them all. This trend confirms their essential role in driving metropolitan competitiveness.

Explore the full study and our recommendations (in French only) to maximize the economic impact of skilled TFWs.