Quebec has instituted a moratorium on its two principal permanent immigration initiatives: the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) and the Quebec Experience Program for International Student Graduates (PEQ-Graduates).

As of September 2024, the unemployment rate for Canadian-born residents in Quebec stands at a low of 4.6%. In contrast, immigrants face a more challenging landscape, with recent permanent residents experiencing an unemployment rate of 11%, while temporary residents encounter an even higher rate of 12.5%.

The provincial government aims to reassess the number of permanent residents it admits, incorporating these figures into future immigration strategies. Last year, Quebec targeted the admission of 6,500 graduates annually under the PEQ-Graduates program, with aspirations to increase this number in 2025. However, the province has now halted new applications. According to Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge, this measure was taken to prevent surpassing manageable limits and to ensure better control over immigration inflow.

This moratorium also applies to the Regular Skilled Worker Program, which welcomed 25,000 immigrants last year, as well as the Programme de l’expérience Québécoise (PEQ) for workers that admitted 5,700 immigrants. New invitations for these programs are temporarily suspended as well. A new immigration plan is anticipated to be revealed by June 30, 2025, which will take effect in 2026 and beyond. The moratorium will remain in place until this new plan is unveiled at the latest. Notably, this marks the first instance where Quebec’s multi-year immigration strategy will consider temporary residents—a demographic that has doubled in recent years, now encompassing approximately 600,000 individuals.

Emna Braham, CEO and president of the Institut du Quebec (IDQ) cautions that the surge in temporary immigration may have adverse long-term implications for Quebec’s economy. Many temporary foreign workers tend to fill positions that residents find undesirable, potentially leading employers to rely on lower-paid labor. This reliance could further disincentivize employers from seeking local talent.