A list of the top job categories has been released by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser ahead of the upcoming category-based Express Entry draws, which are set to begin in the summer.
Furthermore, there will be category-specific draws in addition to the general draws. The top-scoring applicants are invited to apply for permanent residency during general draws by IRCC.
Candidates are only invited to participate in program-specific draws if they have the best program ranking.
In the new category-based draws, the IRCC will invite top-scoring applicants who have strong French skills or work experience in any of the following fields:
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Healthcare
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
The selection process for these categories was based on what criteria?
Choosing an employment category that meets your qualifications and identifying the most openings within it would be beneficial. According to Statistics Canada, this article summarizes and further deconstructs data on job openings by province and territory for 2022 Q4.
Several of the new categories are meant to fill open positions throughout Canada since immigration is considered one of the most effective strategies for addressing the country’s labor shortage. Before the Minister could decide upon these categories, legislative requirements required him to consult with the provinces and territories, injured parties, unions, employers, employees, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration experts.
Healthcare
Since the COVID-19 epidemic, the healthcare and social assistance sector has seen a sharp increase in job openings.
Immigrants fill the majority of open positions in Canada’s healthcare sector. 36% of physicians and 25% of nurses in Canada were born abroad. In response, the IRCC is easing immigration restrictions on foreign-trained healthcare professionals, such as doctors on temporary residency visas in Canada.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, 143,695 jobs were open in the category of Healthcare and Social Assistance, representing a 6% vacancy rate.
Provinces were divided as follows:
- 55,250 vacancies in Ontario
- 40, 105 vacancies in Quebec
- 17,705 vacancies in British Columbia
- 9770 vacancies in Alberta
- 2,955 vacancies in Saskatchewan
- 6,790 vacancies in Manitoba
- 2,250 vacancies in Newfoundland
- 4,780 vacancies in Nova Scotia
- 2,630 vacancies in New Brunswick
- 685 vacancies onTrades Prince Edward Island
- 565 vacancies in Northwest Territories
STEM professions
Professional, scientific, and technical services cover jobs in STEM fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The number of job openings in this industry was 56,915 in Q4 2022, or 4.6%.
The number of job openings in each province was as follows:
- 24 525 vacancies in Ontario
- 14,725 vacancies in Quebec
- 8,115 vacancies in British Columbia
- 5 515 vacancies in Alberta
- 895 vacancies in Saskatchewan
- 630 vacancies in Manitoba
- 405 vacancies in Newfoundland
- 595 vacancies in New Brunswick
- 1,110 vacancies in Nova Scotia
- 200 vacancies in PEI
The territories’ employment openings are either not available, or there are no job openings available.
STEM jobs are in high demand in Canada. The high retirement rate in Canada as well as changing technologies and automation employed in business and daily life, are causing a skills gap in the Canadian workforce, according to Statistics Canada research in November 2022.
STEM careers typically offer competitive salaries compared to other careers. Accommodation and food services, for example, offered an hourly rate of $16.35, compared to $35.80 in Q4 2022.
Trades
Retail trades and wholesale transactions are included in the category of trades for Statistics Canada. Overall, 30,930 wholesale trade jobs were available, while 108,795 retail trade jobs were available.
Each province had the following:
- 55,660 job openings in Ontario
- 34,495 job openings in Quebec
- 19,215 job openings in British Columbia
- 15,545 job openings in Alberta
- 4,665 job openings in Saskatchewan
- 3,025 job openings in Manitoba
- 895 job openings in Newfoundland
- 2,155 job openings in New Brunswick
- 3,065 job openings in Nova Scotia
- 520 job openings in PEI (retail trade, no wholesale trade job vacancies)
Transport
43,700 jobs were available in the transportation and warehousing sector, or 5% of all job openings. Since the beginning of 2021, fewer jobs have been available in the transportation sector.
Each province had the following:
- 15,110 job openings in Ontario
- 7,950 job openings in Quebec
- 9,060 job openings in British Columbia
- 6,445 job openings in Alberta
- 915 job openings in Saskatchewan
- 1,915 job openings in Manitoba
- 210 job openings in Newfoundland
- 720 job openings in New Brunswick
- 1,055 job openings in Nova Scotia
- 115 job openings in PEI
Agriculture and agri-food
As of Q4 2022, there were 10.535, or 3.9%, job openings in Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting. As of the second quarter of 2022, there were 7.2% of open positions in this region, which is the lowest since 2021.
Each province had the following:
- 3,070 in Ontario
- 1,950 in Quebec
- 2,475 in British Columbia
- 940 in Alberta
- 540 in Saskatchewan
- 550 in Manitoba
- 720 in New Brunswick
- 425 in Nova Scotia
- 130 in PEI
Canada will be better positioned to attract highly sought-after experts by bringing in more qualified employees in these fields, according to Minister Fraser. Currently, there is no date set for the start of category-based drawings this summer.
