A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document issued by Canadian Government, assessing the impact of hiring a foreign national in Canada. A positive LMIA report states that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a position, therefore allowing an employer to hire a foreign employee. A negative LMIA report states that a position should be filled in either by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Generally, a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment is required before a Canadian employer can hire a temporary foreign worker.

LMIA is a form of labour market union created to protect Canada’s domestic job marketplace, as well as protect foreign workers employed in Canada. 

Generally, if a Canadian employer would like to hire a temporary foreign worker to work in Canada, they must submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment application to Employment and Social Development Canada.

An LMIA is a labor market verification process through which Canadian Government evaluates an offer of employment to make sure that the employment of a foreign worker will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labor market. It is compulsory for Employers  to provide a pool full of information about the position for which they want to hire a foreign worker, including the number of Canadians who applied for the required position and the number of Canadians who were interviewed  and rejected along with the detailed reason for why they were not hired.