The sad truth is that employment in the agriculture industry has been declining for decades. Advances in automation have enabled farmers to use technology to perform tasks that people used to do inexpensively and with less administration. However, many farms and ranches in Canada still believe in traditional methods. Additionally, numerous smaller farms cannot justify the costs of fully automated equipment and continue to rely on dedicated and hardworking farmworkers. Canada is vast, being the second-largest country in the world, and with 13 provinces and territories, it’s essential to know where to find the best opportunities for farmworker jobs in Canada. Without further ado, here are the best provinces to find work as a farmworker.
Easiest Provinces to Migrate to Canada as a Farmworker
A popular term for a farmworker in Canada is a ranch worker, and you may see this term used throughout this article. If you are a seasoned farmworker, you likely know that most ranch and farm jobs in Canada include housing. Salaries for formal paid positions are competitive, typically starting at CAD 15 an hour. While this work can provide immediate income, it may not be beneficial if you aim to become a permanent resident of Canada. Always accept jobs with formal employment contracts and prioritize permanent positions over seasonal ones, even if the latter pays better.
Alberta
Alberta offers plenty of opportunities in Canada’s largest breeding province. It ranks as the country’s second-largest wheat producer and has numerous openings in mixed farming, hog, and dairy farming. The province is in high demand for horse trainers, farmworkers, pasture riders, general farmworkers, and greenhouse workers.
Atlantic Provinces
Nova Scotia stands out as the best place to find farm work in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is also a viable route to migrate to Canada as a farmworker if you can secure a permanent position in this field. Farms in Nova Scotia produce a variety of crops, with poultry being the primary product. The province is the largest producer of chicken and turkey in Canada, and dairy and livestock farming are also significant. If you have experience with chickens, Nova Scotia is the place for you.
Saskatchewan
Although Saskatchewan has a large agricultural sector, it is not very labor-friendly. The main crops in this province are grains, which massive machinery primarily handles. Many farms operate on a large scale, with 5,000-hectare farms run by just a couple of individuals. They manage sowing and harvesting, while combines do the heavy lifting. If you are trained in the use and maintenance of modern farm machinery, you can find long-term, well-paying employment in Saskatchewan.
British Columbia
If you seek a true rancher’s paradise, British Columbia is the place to look. The province features grassy valleys filled with grazing cattle, all surrounded by snow-capped mountains—a budding cowboy’s dream. British Columbia offers great opportunities for agricultural workers looking to immigrate to Canada. Similar to Alberta, herding is dominant, and agriculture is diverse. Many farms also focus on high-quality, value-added products, such as wine and herbal medicines for personal care. It is one of the provinces with the most full-time positions available.
How to Migrate to Canada as a Farmworker
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot
To meet the specific needs of the Canadian agri-food sector, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot has been tailored to allow industry workers with permanent jobs to apply for permanent residence in Canada. However, this pilot program has a deadline; submissions must be made by May 2023. Given that 2020 was essentially a cancellation for the program, time is of the essence to secure a long-term position and the Canadian work experience necessary to qualify.
The requirements are straightforward, and while the list of eligible professions is longer, here are the key criteria:
- You must have at least one year of non-seasonal full-time paid work in the last three years (1,560 hours) in one of the eligible occupations listed below in Canada.
- You must hold a valid work permit granted through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), and your employer must have a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- You will need to take one of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) tests in English or French and score a minimum of 4 across the four categories: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- You must have a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent. If you graduated from high school abroad, you can have an Educational Credential Assessment done to show that your qualification meets Canadian standards.
- You may need to demonstrate that you have enough funds to settle in Canada. If you are already living and working in Canada, this requirement may not apply.
The pilot allocates a certain number of places for each of the occupations in the following categories:
- Meat Product Manufacturing: Retail butchers, industrial butchers, farm supervisors, specialized livestock workers, and food processing laborers.
- Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production: General farmworkers, harvesting laborers, farm supervisors, and specialized livestock workers.
- Animal Production (excluding aquaculture): Farm supervisors, specialized livestock workers, and general farmworkers.
Another reason to act quickly if you want to migrate to Canada as a farm worker is that the program accepts a limited number of applications each year. Therefore, it is vital to submit your application as soon as you are eligible.
Annual Limits on Applications
| Occupation | Applications Processed per Year |
|---|---|
| Retail butchers & Industrial butchers | 1,470 |
| Food processing laborers | 730 |
| Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers | 50 |
| General farmworkers | 200 |
| Harvesting laborers | 300 |
In summary, the opportunities for farmworker jobs in Canada are abundant, especially in provinces like Alberta, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. By understanding the immigration pathways and requirements, you can take the necessary steps to build a successful career in Canada’s agriculture sector.