How Quebec’s 2025 Labour Shortage Is Forcing Immigration Policy Shifts

(QUEBEC) Quebec unveiled a sweeping immigration plan on June 5, 2025, proposing a multi‑year reset that would introduce Canada’s first provincial temporary immigration targets while also lowering permanent admissions. The government says the moves respond to a province‑wide labour shortage and mounting pressure on housing, health care, and schools, especially in Montreal and Laval.

The plan, covering 2026–2029, would sharply scale down the number of non‑permanent residents, tighten French‑language rules for temporary foreign workers, and prioritize permanent residence for people already living in Quebec who speak French.

The government framed these steps as necessary to protect the French language and to match arrivals with the province’s ability to integrate newcomers. Official updates and consultation details are posted by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) at https://www.quebec.ca/en/immigration.

High‑level targets and numbers

• Permanent admissions: Quebec proposed annual caps of 25,000, 35,000, or 45,000 new permanent residents for 2026–2029, down from roughly 50,000 in 2024–2025.
• Non‑permanent residents (NPRs): the province aims to reduce NPR counts from about 616,552 in early 2025 to 200,000 by 2029, with steeper cuts in Montreal and Laval to ease rent and service backlogs.
• Geographical focus: deeper reductions are planned in Montreal and Laval to stabilize housing and public services.

Policy changes and timelines

Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) and other program updates are staged as follows:

• PSTQ: reopened in July 2025, with a clear preference for French‑speaking candidates already living and working in Quebec.
• PEQ (Quebec Experience Program) — Workers and Diplomas: suspended until late 2025.
• Refugee sponsorship programs: paused until 2027.
• Public consultations: run through the summer of 2025.
• Final immigration levels plan: due in October 2025.

The province says these pauses will help clear backlogs and refocus selection on candidates who can settle in French.

Temporary worker rules and cuts

• After three years in Quebec, most temporary foreign workers must show at least level 4 oral French to renew their work authorization.
  • Agricultural workers are excluded from this renewal language requirement.
• Quebec plans to reduce temporary foreign workers in Montreal by 50% over four years.
• Province‑wide temporary worker numbers would fall from about 72,000 to 65,000 under the proposal.
• Quebec is pressing the federal government to reduce International Mobility Program (IMP) work permit holders from 400,000 to 200,000 before the province will consider raising its own targets again.

Pressure points: housing, language, and workforce

Quebec’s labour shortage is acute in health care, technology, and construction. Employers have relied on temporary workers, students, and asylum seekers to fill gaps, but rapid NPR growth has strained services.

• NPRs in Quebec have risen by 203% since 2019 (VisaVerge.com), coinciding with rising rents and longer wait times for public services.
• Montreal and Laval have experienced the most pressure; hence the focused reductions in those regions.

Language policy is central to the proposal:

• Quebec argues that French proficiency is essential for employment, community life, and long‑term settlement.
• The level 4 oral French renewal threshold is intended to encourage earlier language learning and better integration.
• Some businesses worry this could reduce available talent, while the government contends that clearer rules will prompt training earlier and improve integration and workplace safety.

Analysts are divided: some say smaller inflows will worsen labour shortages, others argue targeted French‑language and local integration efforts will improve retention and reduce churn.

Key elements of the proposal:
– Permanent admissions: annual caps of 25,000, 35,000, or 45,000 (down from ~50,000).
– Non‑permanent residents: target reduction from ~616,552 to 200,000 by 2029, with steeper cuts in Montreal and Laval.
– Language for renewals: minimum level 4 oral French after three years (agriculture excluded).
– Program status: PSTQ prioritized for French‑speaking local candidates; PEQ Workers & Diplomas paused until late 2025; refugee sponsorship paused until 2027.

Impact on workers, students, and employers

For workers:
– Those already in Quebec—especially French speakers—gain clearer routes to permanent residence through the PSTQ.
– Applicants from abroad or without French face narrower options for now and potentially longer waits until programs reopen.
– The three‑year renewal rule means a worker arriving on a permit in 2025 would likely need level 4 oral French by 2028 (unless in agriculture).

For employers:
– Hiring will shift toward candidates who can work in French or can rapidly reach level 4.
– Sectors relying on rotating temporary staff (food processing, hospitality, some tech roles) may need to:
– change staffing models,
– add training programs,
– or increase pay to retain qualified staff.
– Employers who fund classes and adjust schedules are more likely to retain staff; those delaying training risk higher turnover at renewal time.

For students and institutions:
– International students are not the central target, but colleges and universities may face second‑order effects.
– Schools can expect increased scrutiny on language readiness and transition‑to‑work supports.
– Institutions investing in French supports and job‑bridge programs could improve graduate outcomes under the new rules.

Federal‑provincial coordination will shape final outcomes:
– Quebec is asking Ottawa to reduce IMP work permit holders from 400,000 to 200,000.
– If Ottawa agrees, the effect would compress temporary flows nationally; if not, Quebec intends to maintain its own lower intake while it rebuilds integration capacity.

Practical next steps and timelines

For people affected (workers, students, families), the recommended actions are:

1. Monitor MIFI notices at https://www.quebec.ca/en/immigration.
2. Prepare for language testing early—plan French learning from Year One on the job.
3. Speak with employers or schools about French classes and workplace accommodations.
4. Engage with community groups for placement and conversation practice.

Public input remains open through late 2025, and the final plan in October 2025 will set the tone for the 2026–2029 period. Meeting the language threshold and preparing early are time‑sensitive priorities for anyone who wants to remain and work in Quebec under the new framework.