What Are the Top In-Demand Jobs in Canada for Foreign Nationals?

4.5 minute read

"As Canada is recovering from Covid-19 caused lockdowns and restrictions, many local businesses have started to adapt to the new normal. Businesses have expanded their operations to online platforms using video-calling applications and other ways to maintain health and safety standards. "

Written by My Visa Source Team
Updated on: Jun 15, 2021

As Canada is recovering from Covid-19 caused lockdowns and restrictions, many local businesses have started to adapt to the new normal. Businesses have expanded their operations to online platforms using video-calling applications and other ways to maintain health and safety standards.

A significant number of people were impacted by the layoffs and cut hours as a consequence of the pandemic. However, the pandemic has given certain leverage to specific sectors like legal firms, long haul drivers, health and safety sectors, online shopping platforms, etc.

Canada’s economy is bouncing back from the impact of Covid-19 as restrictions are beginning to loosen. Canada aims to invite over 400,000 new immigrants in 2021 in a bet to boost economic recovery. Economic immigration will make up a significant portion of the immigration target.

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada in 2021. It is important to know which jobs are most in-demand to increase your chances of succeeding in Canada.

What Are the Top In-Demand Jobs in Canada for 2021?

There are a few major industries in Canada that were majorly impacted by the lockdowns, including tourism and hospitality, travel, storefront retail, import, export and the oil industries. However, many in-demand jobs can pull you through the immigration process.

According to Randstad Canada, the following are the top in-demand jobs for 2021:

Customer Service Representative:

The importance and demand for customer service representatives have dramatically increased because of the pandemic. Businesses need experienced professionals to deal with distressed customers and handle difficult situations. Customer service representatives can earn up to $34,125 annually.

Drivers:

This is one of the most highly demanded jobs since long-haul truck drivers are required to deliver essential goods and supplies to customers and medical institutions. Drivers in Canada can earn up to $44,234 annually.

Registered Nurse:

Canada already had a shortage of registered nurses, but the pandemic added fuel to the fire and amplified the need for professional nurses to handle the increase in critical care patients. Registered nurses earn up to $80,126 annually.

General Labourer:

There is a high demand for semi-skilled and unskilled laborers in Canada. General laborers earn up to $31,919 annually.

Electrical Engineer:

A lot of businesses require electrical engineers to maintain a complex communication system. Electrical engineers can earn up to $74,997 with their diverse skill set.

Software Developer:

Since the pandemic has forced a lot of the working population to work from home and the increasing popularity of e-commerce platforms, software developers are quite high in demand. Software developers can make up to $85,600 annually.

What Are the Immigration Options Available for In-Demand Foreign Workers?

Canada offers certain industry-specific and region-specific immigration pilot programs to encourage the economic immigration of foreign workers with in-demand skills and experience.

Out of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories, 11 offer their own version of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These PNPs and provincial pilot programs offer several occupation-specific immigration streams to meet the demands of the local labor market of their respective regions. These popular programs include:

Agri-Food Immigration Pilot:

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is an industry-specific pilot that encourages economic immigration of high-skilled and semi-skilled foreign temporary non-seasonal workers to fill labor shortages within the Agriculture-Food related sector such as meat processing and mushroom production industries.

Caregiver Programs:

As a professional caregiver, you can apply for permanent residency under the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot. The new caregiver pilot programs are employer-specific. Caregivers are allowed to change employers when necessary and can add accompanying spouses, dependent children or parents and grandparents to their application.

British Columbia Tech Pilot:

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) introduced the Tech Pilot to meet the growing demand for foreign skilled workers in the growing tech industry of British Columbia. The pilot has a list of the current 29 in-demand occupations that are eligible to apply for this category.

Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream:

The Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades stream is for foreign skilled workers who wish to practice a skilled trade and are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It is an Express Entry aligned PNP stream for skilled tradespersons.

Saskatchewan Experience Category:

The Saskatchewan Experience Category is for foreign skilled workers who are currently employed in Saskatchewan and have a valid job offer from a designated employer.

There are 5 immigration streams offered under this category: