Canada will prioritize immigrants with trade experience

Key Takeaways:

• This year, category-based selection invitations will include those with experience in the trades.
• Officials chose the categories after hearing from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages.
• 2022 legislative changes allowed for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience.

The Whole Story:

Immigrants with experience in the trades will have a faster pathway to living and working in Canada. 

The Government of Canada has announced the first-ever launch of category-based selection for Canada’s flagship economic immigration management system, Express Entry. Category-based selection will allow Canada to issue invitations to apply to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training or language ability. Further details on the timing of invitations for individual categories and how to apply will be announced in the coming weeks.

This year, category-based selection invitations will focus on candidates who have a strong French language proficiency or work experience in the following fields:

• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
• Trades and contractors like carpenters and plumbers
• Transport
• Agriculture and agri-food
• Healthcare

Officials explained that category-based selection will make Express Entry more responsive to Canada’s changing economic and labour market needs, while building on the high human capital approach.

“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said Sean Fraser, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship. “These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities. Put simply, Canada’s immigration system has never been more responsive to the country’s social or economic needs.”

In June 2022, the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience or knowledge of French. 

Legislative requirements to use these new authorities include that the minister engage in public consultations, prior to establishing a new category, with provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners. Each year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) must also report to Parliament on the categories that were chosen during the previous year and the selection process, including the rationale for choosing them. 

The categories have been determined following extensive consultations with provincial and territorial partners, stakeholders and the public, as well as a review of labour market needs. A complete list of eligible jobs for the new categories is available online. The first category-based invitations to apply are expected to be sent this summer.