Getting a job is an essential step for temporary residents, including those with study, work, or visitor visas. It helps them economically establish themselves in Canada as well as securing eligibility for various economic pathways to Canadian permanent residence. When immigrating to Canada, new immigrants may seek the leading in-demand occupations in Canadian Express Entry. This will help them make the appropriate decision and establish themselves successfully. 

Read on to discover which jobs are in high demand in Canada. 

Leading in-demand Occupations in Canadian Express Entry

The immigration department, IRCC, launched the category-based selection draws under Express Entry in order to better adapt immigration to the labor market needs. These draw consider candidates from the Express Entry pool either with experience in urgent, in-demand occupations or with specific proficiency (French language abilities).

IRCC selected five categories with work experience in in-demand occupations, including:

  • Trade;
  • Transport; 
  • Healthcare;
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); and
  • Agriculture/agri-food.

Here, we’ll discuss the list of leading in-demand occupations in Canadian Express Entry to highlight the jobs with urgent gaps in the labor market as well as the ones that can better help strengthen the Canadian labor market via immigration (per IRCC).

When IRCC’s listed professions are compared to the other in-demand professions indicated by popular job boards and human resource consulting firms, several of the identified professions coincide.

Note that the list below for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Healthcare occupations will include the most prevalent job titles as per the IRCC’s list. The other profession lists for the remaining categories will include all in-demand occupations.

National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 codes are also provided for reference for each profession.

In-demand jobs in the Healthcare Sector in Canada

The Healthcare field includes a wide range of jobs like physicians, psychologists, physiologists, etc. Among these professions, the most prevalent job titles include the following:

Nurses

In Canada, targeted nursing jobs include:

  • Nursing coordinators and supervisors (NOC 31300).
  • Registered nurses & registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301).
  • Nurse practitioners (NOC 31302).
  • Physician assistants, midwives, & allied health professionals (NOC 31303).
  • Licensed Practical Nurses (NOC 32101).
  • Nurse aides, orderlies, & patient service associates (NOC 33102).

Lab/medical assistants and technical medical staff

In Canada, targeted professions under lab/medical assistants and technical medical staff include:

  • Physician assistants, midwives, & allied health professionals (NOC 31303).
  • Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 32120).
  • Medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121).
  • Medical sonographers (NOC 32122).
  • Medical laboratory assistants and related technical options (NOC 33101).
  • Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (NOC 33103).

In-demand jobs in the STEM Sector in Canada

STEM occupations include a range of professions, such as data scientists, architects, land surveyors, etc. Among these professions, the most prevalent job titles include the following:

Engineers

In Canada, targeted professions include:

  • Engineering managers (NOC 20010).
  • Civil engineers (NOC 21300).
  • Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 21310).
  • Computer engineers (except software engineers & designers) (NOC 21311).
  • Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321).
  • Metallurgic and materials engineers (NOC 21322).
  • Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231).

Business and computer systems specialists

In Canada, targeted professions include:

  • Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012).
  • Cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220).
  • Information systems specialists (NOC 21222).
  • Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 21223).
  • Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230).

In-demand jobs in the Trade Sector in Canada

Typically, the trades occupation category includes works related to skilled trades needed for construction, manufacturing, repairs, etc. These include the following jobs.

  • Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers, and servicers (NOC 72014).
  • Welders and related machine operators (NOC 72106).
  • Electricians (except industrial & power system) (NOC 72200).
  • Plumbers (NOC 72300).
  • Carpenters (NOC 72310).
  • Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (NOC 72400).
  • Heating refrigeration & air conditioning mechanics (NOC 72402).
  • Elevator constructors and mechanics (NOC 72406);
  • Machine fitters (NOC 72405).
  • Residential & commercial installers and servicers (NOC 73200).

In-demand jobs in the Transport Sector in Canada

In Canada, Transport occupations typically target jobs supporting the commercial transport of people and goods. These occupations include the following:

  • Managers in transportation (NOC 70020).
  • Railway carmen/women (NOC 72403).
  • Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (NOC 72404).
  • Air pilots, flight engineers, & flying instructors (NOC 72600).
  • Air traffic controllers and related occupations (NOC 72601).
  • Deck officers, water transport (NOC 72602).
  • Engineer officers, water transport (NOC 72603).
  • Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators (NOC 72604).
  • Transport truck drivers (NOC 73300).
  • Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors (NOC 93200).

In-demand jobs in the Agriculture and Agri-food Sector in Canada

The Agriculture and agri-food occupations typically concern the professions related to farming, production of food and produce, landscaping, etc. These include the following occupations:

  • Butchers—retail and wholesale (NOC 63201).
  • Agriculture service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030).
  • Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance, and horticulture services (NOC 82031).

Who Can Qualify for Express Entry Category-Based Draws?

A common query concerning the Express Entry Category-Based Draws is its eligibility, i.e., who can qualify for such draws. 

So, to be eligible for category-based draws, or we can say the above-discussed six categories, interested candidates must satisfy the basic criteria. They must already have their application in the Express Entry Pool and have continuous work experience of at least six months in the past three years, either in Canada or overseas.

When candidates submit their profiles under any of the three most popular Express Entry Programs: the FSTP or Federal Skilled Trades Program, the FSWP or Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the CEC or Canadian Experience Class, they are required to wait for a relevant Express Entry draw inviting candidates for PR. The draw must be based on their CRS score or consideration in any of the above-selected categories. 

IRCC uses the CRS to rank immigration candidates depending on their human capital factors, like age, education, experience, etc. 

If candidates receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs), they have no more than 60 days to submit their complete Permanent Residence Application. If IRCC approves the application, applicants are granted the status of Canadian PR and are issued a Confirmation or Permanent Residence (COPR). Then, candidates become officially approved to settle in Canada permanently.