A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that assesses the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labour market. It is a crucial step for Canadian employers who wish to hire foreign workers through certain work permit programs.

The purpose of an LMIA is to determine if there is a genuine need for hiring a foreign worker because no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill the job position. The assessment considers factors such as the labour market conditions, the employer's efforts to hire locally, and the potential impact on wages and working conditions.

To apply for an LMIA, the Canadian employer must demonstrate that they have made sufficient efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the job position. They may be required to advertise the job vacancy and provide evidence of their recruitment efforts. The employer must also prove that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively impact the Canadian labour market.