The Big Story Are foreign workers really stealing jobs?
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Sep 17, 2025 Fabian Lange, a Professor of Economics at McGill University, dives into the heated debate surrounding Canada's temporary foreign worker program amidst rising unemployment. He argues that foreign workers aren't the main culprits for job losses, especially among youth. Instead, broader economic factors like trade disputes play a significant role. Lange emphasizes the need for skill development to combat challenges in the job market and warns against drastic reforms to the program, highlighting its role in addressing labor shortages.
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Youth Unemployment Signals Weak Demand
- Youth unemployment rises mainly because overall labor demand is weakening, not because of temporary foreign workers.
- Young people disproportionately suffer because they are the ones actively searching for jobs when hiring falls.
Unemployment Metrics Exclude Students
- Official unemployment rates exclude many young people in full-time education, which makes youth rates look worse.
- Graduating students who search for jobs briefly inflate the measured youth unemployment share.
Delay Entry To Improve Prospects
- Consider acquiring more skills or staying in full-time education while the labor market weakens.
- Postponing entry into the job market can improve long-term earnings and access to better jobs.