Should You Hire Locally or Globally? A Canadian Employer’s Decision Guide
Canadian businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—are facing a labour crisis. In fact, 69% are struggling to find qualified candidates. In sectors like construction, healthcare, and skilled trades, more employers are turning to hiring overseas workers in Canada as a solution to persistent local gaps.
Still, choosing between local and global hiring isn’t always straightforward. While international recruitment can widen your talent pool, local hires offer familiarity and faster onboarding. Not one possibility is better than the other—it’s a matter of understanding your needs and goals and making certain compromises.
This blog helps you decide whether to hire local talent or broaden your horizons, and how a Philippine employment agency can help you with the latter.
Understanding the Talent Pools
To make the right hiring call, you need to know what you’re working with.
Canadian local talent
When you hire local workers, you’re bringing in people who already understand how things work in Canadian workplaces—from rules and culture to basic expectations. In your case, it means less time spent on training and paperwork.
There are also government programs that make local hiring easier and more affordable. You might qualify for funding or wage subsidies that help lower your upfront costs.
Hiring locally also saves time. It’s easier to meet candidates in person, onboard them quickly, and help them fit into your team, especially for roles that deal directly with customers or require bilingual skills.
Global talent
Hiring global talent opens your business up to a much broader, more diverse talent pool. In industries like healthcare, skilled trades, or information technology, it’s common to have long hiring timelines or find that the local market simply doesn’t have the depth you need.
Many international workers have strong work experience, speak multiple languages, and are used to fast-paced jobs. Sometimes, they’re also more affordable to hire than local workers. That’s why more employers are working with a Philippine employment agency or other overseas partners to fill important roles, especially for hard-to-fill shifts or jobs in remote areas.
Hiring locally often means higher salaries, especially in big cities. You’ll also need to cover extras like benefits, paid training, and bonuses to keep staff.
Meanwhile, global talent can be more affordable overall. But you’ll need to cover upfront costs like visas, travel, and initial settlements. A trusted international recruitment agency for Canadian businesses can handle most of these processes for you.
Time to hire and talent availability
The local hiring process can be quick if the right candidate is available. But in industries facing chronic shortages, such as long-term care or heavy equipment operation, wait times can stretch for months.
Employers in Canada usually spend more time initially hiring overseas workers because of paperwork. But once they set up the process, it’s the easier and more reliable choice for filling roles.
Training and onboarding needs
Local hires usually need less cultural or regulatory onboarding. They’re familiar with Canadian safety standards, employment laws, and basic workplace etiquette.
For global hires, expect to invest more in orientation. But with proper planning, these professionals quickly catch up. They may even exceed expectations, especially when you hire through a seasoned Philippine employment agency that screens and pre-trains workers before deployment.
Cultural fit and communication
Local employees are likely to understand regional customs, workplace humour, and client expectations, especially in roles that require constant customer interaction.
Meanwhile, international employees may need time to adjust, but they often bring a strong work ethic, global perspective, and eagerness to contribute. Cultural integration becomes easier when you work with agencies experienced in helping workers transition smoothly.
Long-term retention and legal considerations
Local employees may job-hop more often. Global hires, especially those under work permits or longer-term programs, stay longer and commit more deeply to the employer that sponsored them.
Legal compliance is critical either way, but when you hire overseas workers in Canada, you’ll need to follow added immigration laws and labour rules.
Challenges and Opportunities
Hiring from abroad has its challenges and rewards. It’s only a matter of taking the right approach to turn the following obstacles into long-term gains.
For Canadian local hiring
Some provinces or sectors don’t have enough workers with the right experience. High wages and fast turnover, especially in big cities, can also make local hiring expensive and time-consuming.
Still, hiring locals is often the best choice for jobs that need bilingual skills, face-to-face customer service, or quick start dates. You can also connect with local schools and groups to support your hiring.
For global hiring
The hardest parts of global talent recruitment are the visa paperwork and relocation logistics. It also takes time to help new hires adjust to Canadian culture, language, and work norms.
But the benefits are big: you get access to hardworking, skilled workers who want to stay long term. With help from a trusted recruitment partner, hiring globally no longer becomes a backup plan.
When to Choose Local vs. Global Talent
Still not sure which direction to take?
Choose local talent when:
• You need someone to start at once
• The role involves face-to-face client work
• You’re eligible for local hiring subsidies or wage grants
• Cultural familiarity is non-negotiable
Choose global talent when:
• You’ve had open roles for months with few qualified local applicants
• The position requires specialized skills or multilingual ability
• You’re planning for long-term growth, not just short-term coverage
• You’re open to working with an international recruitment agency in Canada to simplify the process
How Staffhouse Can Help
Hiring from abroad doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With over two decades of experience, Staffhouse International Resources makes it easier for Canadian employers like you to connect with competent Filipino talent. Whether you’re staffing for healthcare, skilled trades, hospitality, or other key industries, our team knows how to find the right candidates—and fast.
We especially take pride in our end-to-end support. From pre-screening applicants to handling documentation and relocation coordination, we help you build a strong workforce with minimal hassle on your part. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that every step of the process aligns with both Philippine and Canadian labour and immigration laws.
Recognized by ethical recruitment bodies like the ILO and IOM, Staffhouse brings quality, compliance, and professionalism to every hire.
Simplify Global Hiring with Staffhouse Expertise
If you’re exploring global talent recruitment as part of your workforce strategy, Staffhouse is here to help. We’ll work with you to find your needs, source the right candidates, and guide you through every legal and logistical step.
Let’s build your future team—together. Contact us todayto learn more about our customized solutions for Canadian employers.
