Part 1: The Current Challenge
Across Canada, employers are losing valued workers – not to competitors, but to expiring work permits. For many businesses, especially those relying on recent graduates, the ticking clock on a Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or any other open work permits has become one of the most disruptive and expensive risks to operations. Too often, employers only become aware of the issue or start exploring options for their workers once the work permit expiry is right around the corner—at which point choices become limited, timelines get tight, and operations feel the impact.
Why should employers be concerned? An unexpected loss of status for a worker can trigger operational delays, compliance issues, and the significant cost of replacing talent that was functioning at full capacity. It is not just a worker problem – it is a business risk.