Author: Ted McDonald, Pablo Miah, Samuel Nemeroff
Year: 2026
Category:
Report
New Brunswick’s digital economy requires a consistent supply of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workers, yet smaller provinces often face constraints in drawing and keeping skilled workers. Temporary foreign workers are one important group contributing ICT skills to the province’s labour force. This report looks at how many ICT‑skilled temporary foreign workers come to the province, how many become permanent residents, and how many stay in New Brunswick after doing so. Using linked administrative data, the study examines differences across work permit streams, countries of citizenship, and other characteristics.
The findings show that ICT‑skilled temporary foreign workers make up a small but steady share of temporary workers in the province. Many transition to permanent residency, especially those in the International Mobility Program. Once they become permanent residents, most remain in New Brunswick for at least one year, though retention declines over time. The insights presented in the report help clarify how temporary migration contributes to the province’s ICT workforce and where long‑term retention challenges remain.
