The categories that will be targeted in the category-based Express Entry drawings, which are anticipated to start this summer, were revealed by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser on May 31.
Along with the general draws and the program-specific draws, there will also be category-based draws. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invite the top-scoring applicants to submit a permanent residency application during general draws. Invitations are only extended to the candidates with the best programme rankings in program-specific draws.
The IRCC will invite the top-scoring applicants who have a strong command of French or who have professional experience in any of the following fields to participate in the new category-based draws:
- Healthcare
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
- Transport
- Agriculture and agri-food
How were these categories chosen?
It would be helpful to understand how the employment market for your category is structured and where the most openings are if you are qualified for selection under one of these categories. This article will summarise and further deconstruct Statistics Canada data on job openings in Canada as of 2022 Q4 by province and territory.
The new categories were chosen to fill open positions across Canada since immigration is viewed as a key strategy for addressing the country’s workforce shortfall. Legislative requirements ensured that the Minister participated in consultations with the provinces and territories, injured parties, unions, employers, employees, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration scholars and practitioners before these categories were decided upon.
Healthcare
Canada has seen a sharp increase in job openings in the sector of healthcare and social assistance since the COVID-19 epidemic.
Canada’s healthcare sector is primarily dependent on immigrants to fill open positions. In Canada, 36% of physicians and 25% of registered nurses were born abroad. As a result, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Commission (IRCC) is taking steps to make it simpler for foreign-trained healthcare professionals to immigrate, including lifting some restrictions for doctors who are already in Canada on a temporary residency visa. Express Entry category-based draws.
In the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022, there were 143,695 job vacancies in the Healthcare and Social Assistance category, making the job vacancy rate 6%. The job vacancies per province were:
- Ontario: 55,250
- Quebec: 40, 105
- British Columbia: 17,705
- Alberta: 9,770
- Saskatchewan: 2,955
- Manitoba: 6,790
- Newfoundland: 2,250
- Nova Scotia: 4,780
- New Brunswick: 2,630
- PEI: 685
- Northwest Territories: 565
STEM professions
Jobs in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—often fall under the umbrella of professional, scientific, and technical services. In Q4 2022, there were 56,915 job openings, or 4.6%, in this industry. According to each province, there were:
- Ontario: 24,525
- Quebec: 14,725
- British Columbia: 8,115
- Alberta: 5,515
- Saskatchewan: 895
- Manitoba: 630
- Newfoundland: 405
- New Brunswick: 595
- Nova Scotia: 1,110
- PEI: 200
There are either no job openings or no availability for the territories’ employment openings.
The need for STEM jobs in Canada is rising. According to a research issued by Statistics Canada in November 2022, a skills gap in the Canadian work force is being caused by the high rate of retirement as well as changing technologies and automation employed in business and daily life. Express Entry category-based draws.
Many of the STEM professions offer a competitive pay compared to other categories. The hourly offered average wage in Q4 2022 was $35.80, compared to $16.35 in the Accommodation and Food services category, for example.
Trades
For the purposes of the Statistics Canada data, the category of trades includes wholesale transactions and retail trades. There were 30,930 job openings in the wholesale trades overall, compared to 108,795 in the retail trades. According to each province, there were:
- Ontario: 55,660
- Quebec: 34,495
- British Columbia: 19,215
- Alberta: 15,545
- Saskatchewan: 4,665
- Manitoba: 3,025
- Newfoundland: 895
- New Brunswick: 2,155
- Nova Scotia: 3,065
- PEI: 520 (retail trade, no wholesale trade job vacancies)
Transport
The number of job openings in the transportation and warehousing sector was 43,700, or 5%. The number of open positions in the transportation industry has decreased since the beginning of 2021. According to each province, there were:
- Ontario: 15,110
- Quebec: 7,950
- British Columbia: 9,060
- Alberta: 6,445
- Saskatchewan: 915
- Manitoba: 1,915
- Newfoundland: 210
- New Brunswick: 720
- Nova Scotia: 1,055
- PEI: 115
Agriculture and agri-food
The category of Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting had a 10.535, or 3.9%, job vacancy rate in Q4 2022. The number of open positions in this region has been decreasing since 2021, when it peaked at 7.2% in the second quarter of 2022. Express Entry category-based draws.
The job vacancies per province were:
- Ontario: 3,070
- Quebec: 1,950
- British Columbia: 2,475
- Alberta: 940
- Saskatchewan: 540
- Manitoba: 550
- New Brunswick: 720
- Nova Scotia: 425
- PEI: 130
According to Minister Fraser, bringing in more qualified employees in these fields will help Canada attract highly sought-after experts to its cities and towns. The category-based drawings are scheduled to start this summer, but there is no definite date at this time.
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