The LMIA, or Labor Market Impact Assessment, is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that is often required for a Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker when there is a shortage of suitable candidates among Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The purpose of the LMIA is to ensure that hiring a foreign worker does not hinder job opportunities for Canadian workers. Employers seeking to hire foreign workers must submit an application for an LMIA to ESDC, along with supporting documents that justify the need to recruit foreign professionals.