Canada’s economy is characterized by strong and steady growth. A number of industries saw significant growth following the pandemic, including several that experienced a robust recovery. The nation’s sustained economic prosperity is largely attributed to its high immigration goals. Immigration Levels Plan 2023–2025 estimates that Canada will welcome 500,000 immigrants a year by the end of 2025. Over 39,000,000 Canadians identify as immigrants, representing nearly 25% of the population. Frequently, new immigrants arrive in Canada prepared to fill labor shortages caused by retirements or a lack of suitable candidates. The fastest-growing job markets and those with the most in-demand skills are among those that are employed.
Healthcare
As a result of living longer and needing more medical care, Canadians today are living longer than previous generations. Because of the increasing need for healthcare personnel, Canadian provinces are trying to attract foreign workers. Canadian dentists, nurses, and physicians account for 39% of the profession.
143,800 job vacancies were available in the healthcare sector as of February 2023, according to Statistics Canada’s latest job openings report. During the pandemic, many nurses took extended leaves of absence or abandoned their profession entirely, making the industry particularly hard hit.
A number of restrictions that previously applied to doctors who were considered to be self-employed have been lifted by IRCC in order to make it easier for them to become permanent residents. Self-employed professionals are typically not eligible for Express Entry.
Ways to move to Canada as a healthcare worker
Healthcare workers enter Canada through the Express Entry program. All three programs are aimed at high-skilled candidates. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Due to the fact that healthcare is a provincial responsibility, most provinces have streams for healthcare professionals under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The Dedicated Healthcare Pathway has just been added to the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
The PNP is frequently held in other provinces in which candidates in the healthcare sector are targeted. This kind of draw occurs almost weekly in British Columbia, and 2,349 healthcare professionals were recently invited to apply through Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities stream.
Additionally, there are two government pilot programs for those who look after youngsters and seniors. The government earlier this year announced a reduction in the amount of Canadian work experience needed for a carer to be eligible for permanent residency under these programs, from 24 to 12 months.
Agriculture
More than 243,000 Canadians work in the agricultural sector, which has a job vacancy rate of more than 14,000 at the moment.
Moreover, 40% of Canadian farm proprietors are anticipated to retire by 2033, according to a recent analysis from the Royal Bank of Canada. Over the next ten years, Canada plans to accept 30,000 permanent immigrants to help with the consequent skills shortfall. These newcomers will have the chance to start new farms or take over existing ones, which will help ensure the survival of the industry.
Ways to migrate to Canada with an agricultural occupation
Agri-Food Pilot Program and occupational caps are being removed by IRCC to fill some of these jobs.
Among the eligible occupations are:
- Butchers in retail
- Butchers in the industrial sector
- Workers in the livestock industry and farm supervisors
- Workers in food processing
- Workers on farms, in general
- Laborers harvesting crops
Some PNPs also have dedicated streams for agriculture workers, just as they do for healthcare workers.
Tech
Clean electricity and clean growth infrastructure projects were highlighted in the federal budget for 2023 at a cost of $20 billion. Investing in this sector will probably lead to an increase in demand in the tech industry.
The report also notes that there are many jobs in the clean technology manufacturing sector that do not require a university degree and that the average worker salary in this industry is $90,252, a significant increase over the average salary for all jobs in the Canadian economy, which is $69,315.
AI’s rapid growth contributes to Canada’s need for IT personnel. It is estimated that there are 1,032 AI and machine learning startups in Canada, according to Invest in Canada, the government website dedicated to enticing investment in the IT sector. Moreover, the Global AI Index ranks Canada fourth for AI investment, innovation, and deployment.
Ways to move to Canada with a tech occupation
As a way to attract more IT workers, the IRCC offers initiatives such as the Global Talent Stream. It promotes the expansion of Canada’s IT sector as part of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. Applicants are required to submit their final applications within two weeks of submitting their final applications.
Provincial Nominee Program offers targeted draws in addition to the general draw. A few examples of provincial tech streams are BC Tech Stream, OINP Tech Draw, Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway, and Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway.
