October 2026 Update: Low-Wage LMIA Unemployment Rates by City | Kamloops and Chilliwack, BC Fall Below 6%
Date Posted:October 13, 2026
Last Updated:October 13, 2026
On October 9, 2026, the Government of Canada updated the census metropolitan area (CMA) unemployment rates used for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications for low-wage positions.
The new rates apply to applications submitted from October 9, 2026, to January 7, 2027.
In British Columbia, Kamloops and Chilliwack fell below 6%, while several areas in other provinces are now subject to the restriction.
Low-Wage LMIAs and the 6% Unemployment Rate Rule
If the work location is in a census metropolitan area (CMA) with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher and the offered wage is below the provincial or territorial wage threshold, the LMIA application will generally not be processed. This also applies when the unemployment rate is exactly 6.0%.
The rate used is the government-published rate in effect when the LMIA is submitted. Exceptions apply to certain sectors and positions, such as construction, food manufacturing, hospitals and some caregiver positions.
October 9, 2026 Update: Low-Wage LMIA Unemployment Rates by CMA
The table below shows the official unemployment rates that apply to LMIA applications submitted from October 9, 2026, to January 7, 2027.
Canadian Major Cities Unemployment Rate Trends and Latest Data
| Census Metropolitan Area | April 10 to July 9, 2026 (%) | July 10 to October 8, 2026 (%) | October 9, 2026, to January 7, 2027 (%) |
| St. John’s (NL) | 7.6 | 7.3 | 6.4 |
| Halifax (NS) | 6.1 | 5.9 | 6.1 |
| Moncton (NB) | 7.4 | 8.1 | 8.1 |
| Saint John (NB) | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
| Fredericton (NB) | 6.5 | 5.3 | 6.2 |
| Saguenay (QC) | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| Québec (QC) | 3.3 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| Sherbrooke (QC) | 5.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Trois-Rivières (QC) | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.7 |
| Drummondville (QC) | 7.3 | 5.7 | 3.8 |
| Montréal (QC) | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.2 |
| Ottawa-Gatineau (ON/QC) | 6.2 | 6.7 | 7.9 |
| Kingston (ON) | 6.2 | 5.3 | 6.3 |
| Belleville – Quinte West (ON) | 7.9 | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| Peterborough (ON) | 6.3 | 7.0 | 6.3 |
| Oshawa (ON) | 7.5 | 8.5 | 9.8 |
| Toronto (ON) | 7.9 | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Hamilton (ON) | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.4 |
| St. Catharines-Niagara (ON) | 7.2 | 5.8 | 6.5 |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (ON) | 9.1 | 8.1 | 7.6 |
| Brantford (ON) | 6.8 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| Guelph (ON) | 6.5 | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| London (ON) | 9.3 | 7.8 | 9.1 |
| Windsor (ON) | 8.8 | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Barrie (ON) | 8.8 | 7.9 | 6.2 |
| Greater Sudbury (ON) | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Thunder Bay (ON) | 5.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Winnipeg (MB) | 6.0 | 5.6 | 5.9 |
| Regina (SK) | 6.4 | 5.9 | 6.7 |
| Saskatoon (SK) | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Lethbridge (AB) | 5.9 | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Calgary (AB) | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.4 |
| Red Deer (AB) | 5.9 | 7.2 | 6.9 |
| Edmonton (AB) | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| Kelowna (BC) | 8.9 | 7.5 | 8.6 |
| Kamloops (BC) | 5.2 | 7.0 | 3.6 |
| Chilliwack (BC) | 5.7 | 7.9 | 5.6 |
| Abbotsford-Mission (BC) | 6.2 | 8.0 | 7.6 |
| Vancouver (BC) | 6.5 | 6.7 | 7.0 |
| Victoria (BC) | 4.9 | 4.6 | 5.8 |
| Nanaimo (BC) | 7.2 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
Kamloops and Chilliwack, BC Fall Below 6%
Kamloops dropped from 7.0% in the previous period to 3.6%, and Chilliwack from 7.9% to 5.6%. During the current period, the unemployment rate restriction on low-wage LMIA applications no longer applies in these two areas.
Victoria also remains below 6% at 5.8%. On the other hand, Vancouver (7.0%), Kelowna (8.6%), Abbotsford–Mission (7.6%) and Nanaimo (6.6%) remain subject to the restriction in principle.
Eligibility Changes in Major BC Areas
| City Name | Previous Unemployment Rate | Latest Unemployment Rate from Oct 9 | Eligibility Status (6% Rule) |
| Kelowna | 7.5% | 8.6% | Ineligible (Continued) |
| Kamloops | 7.0% | 3.6% | Eligible (Improved) |
| Chilliwack | 7.9% | 5.6% | Eligible (Improved) |
| Abbotsford-Mission | 8.0% | 7.6% | Ineligible (Continued) |
| Vancouver | 6.7% | 7.0% | Ineligible (Continued) |
| Victoria | 4.6% | 5.8% | Eligible (Continued) |
| Nanaimo | 6.5% | 6.6% | Ineligible (Continued) |
Halifax, Kingston, Regina and Three Other Areas Are Newly Subject to the Restriction
Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines–Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge, which were below 6% in the previous period, are now at 6% or higher. Employers who were preparing applications in these areas should review their plans based on the latest figures.
Check the CMA of the Work Location and the Applicable Period Before Applying for a Low-Wage LMIA
CMA boundaries do not always match municipal boundaries. It is important to use the postal code of the work location to confirm which CMA it belongs to.
Even if the unemployment rate is below 6%, LMIA approval is not guaranteed. When moving forward with an application, also review the other requirements, such as recruitment efforts, wages and working conditions.
The next unemployment rate update is scheduled for January 8, 2027. Employers and those planning to apply for a work permit should keep the planned submission date in mind from the early stages of preparation and allow plenty of time.
With the latest unemployment rate updates, many employers and foreign workers may be panicking, thinking they can no longer proceed with their planned LMIA applications or being unsure if their employment region is affected.
At Shiraishi VisaJP Canada, our free consultation carefully listens to your situation, including your current employment region, occupation, and visa expiration date, to clearly guide you through the current system based on the latest unemployment rate data and official government guidance announced this time.
- You want to confirm if your workplace area is included as an eligible target in this latest unemployment rate update
- You want to know the latest standards regarding the boundary between Low Wage and High Wage LMIAs or the general application flow
If this applies to you, please feel free to utilize our free consultation.
Please note that the free consultation is limited to listening to your current situation and providing general information and data regarding the LMIA system. Specific LMIA application strategy design based on an individual’s specific work history or an employer’s corporate situation, as well as concrete visa advice accompanying hourly wage increases, are provided through paid individual counseling and consulting by our government authorized consultants. Please start by organizing your current situation with our free consultation.
This article is a summary prepared by Shiraishi Visa JP Canada based on official information from the Government of Canada, organized for clarity and ease of understanding.
Source (last updated October 9, 2026): Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application
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Yuki Shiraishi
Born in Japan. After earning a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, she worked for six years in New York as a marketing consultant at a major travel agency, while also studying in an MBA program at the City University of New York. After returning to Japan, she managed the visa center of the same travel company, handling various international visa applications for foreign clients.
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