I applied for a permanent residence visa (PRV) last October and am naturally still waiting for a decision. In the meantime, a company in Canada would like to hire me and asked me to find out about work permits. I found out information on temporary work permits and that seemed fine - until, on the HRSDC website, they mentioned permanent work permits as a means of supporting permanent immigration. see http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/epb/lmd/fw/poWorkPerm.shtml

I am now confused - is this a different application process? Which option would be best for me? If the temporary permit is only valid for a year, should I apply for a permanent visa to ensure I am covered until I hear back about the PRV? Or is this harder to get authorised? Would a permanent work visa help my application for a PRV in any way?

You are referring to two different processes. HRSDC (soon to be Services Canada) conducts two main types of evaluations: those for temporary work permits; and those in support of permanent resident applications. You are referring to the latter, which is an evaluation of a permanent job offer for the purpose of awarding the points for Arranged Employment in the current Skilled Worker program (permanent resident visa).

This process does not evaluate the impact on the local job market. Instead, it seeks to determine that a permanent offer of employment is bona-fide, and that it will be available at such time as a permanent resident visa is issued to the candidate. It is neither harder nor easier, just different.