From healthcare to technology, Canada has plenty of jobs for newcomers, many of which are included in national and provincial express immigration programs. In fact, Canada plans to welcome nearly 1.5 million immigrants in the next three years.
To save you time searching, in this article we have compiled a list of fast-growing industries and jobs across Canada, highlighting the top pivotal jobs that immigrants play in sustaining the country’s economy.
First: Jobs in the field of health care
The demand for health care workers in Canada is higher than ever. Although the demand for health care workers is high across Canada, there are some places in the country where the need for these jobs is greater than others.
For example, there is a dire need for family doctors in the three territories (Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories), Quebec and British Columbia. Of all the provinces, the doctor-to-patient ratio is the worst in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
For personal support workers (PSWs) and continuing care assistants (CCAs), demand is so high that some provinces, including Ontario and Nova Scotia, offer free training to qualified students. Graduates may be required to work in underserved communities for a period of time.
Most in-demand jobs
The healthcare sector covers a number of different professions, including doctors, physiologists, psychologists, and many more. Among these professions, the most common jobs include:
Nursing staff
Medical Laboratory Assistants and Technical Medical Staff
Salary range
Salaries vary widely depending on role, location and experience. Here are some examples from the Canadian Job Bank data:
Medical administrative assistants can earn between $17 and $34.55 per hour (lowest in Prince Edward Island, highest in Yukon), with a national average of $22.56 per hour.
Registered nurses can earn between $25 and $83 per hour (lowest in Quebec, highest in Nunavut), with a national average of $40.39 per hour.
General practitioners (family doctors) earn from $69,539 to $497,843 per year (lowest in British Columbia, highest in Manitoba), with a national average of $233,726 per year.
Training and Credentials
The type of accreditation varies greatly by job type and by province or territory. For example, health care administrators may need to undergo training in Canada to meet job requirements, where there are a large number of courses available at government-funded and private schools.
For regulated health professionals, it can be difficult to obtain internationally recognized credentials in Canada. That is beginning to change somewhat as regulators try to address the labor shortage.
Second: Jobs in the field of information technology
Canada’s IT industry has long struggled with a shortage of skilled workers, a challenge that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The federal government has launched programs to bring in tech talent from abroad, offering them incentives including Express Entry, startup visas, and the Global Skills Strategy. One of the provinces with the most Express Entry pathways for tech workers is Alberta.
Most in-demand jobs
Salary range
The salary range in this sector is quite wide. For example, a help desk technician can earn between $47,000 and $69,000 per year, while executives, such as chief technology officers, earn upwards of $185,000 per year.
Pay levels can vary by province, with a software developer in Toronto or Vancouver earning around $80,000 to $136,000, while in Regina, Saskatchewan they will earn around $74,000 to $127,000.
Training and Credentials
As with any industry, some newcomers may need additional training in Canada to qualify for in-demand jobs. For IT jobs, many colleges, universities, and training institutions offer courses and programs that range in cost from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. You won’t need a license or academic degree to pursue a career in this sector, but some companies may require training or experience.
Most Needy Counties
You’ll find IT jobs in companies of all sizes, both inside and outside the tech industry. Canada has several tech hotspots, including the Toronto-Waterloo corridor, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, and Halifax. There’s also a strong demand for tech workers within companies in other industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, banking and finance, and retail.
Third: Skilled trades jobs
If you are a skilled tradesperson, there are several ways to immigrate to Canada and work there. In mid-2023, the Canadian government announced a priority immigration plan based on the category that includes trades jobs, such as carpenters, plumbers, and construction workers, especially in some provinces with a high demand for such jobs, such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.
Most in-demand jobs
According to Employment and Social Development Canada, here are the top five jobs in demand in this sector through 2026.
Salary range
Salaries vary by skill and location. For example, a chef can earn between $14 and $35 per hour (lowest in Saskatchewan, highest in Yukon), with a national average of $16.
While a welder can earn between $16 and $54 per hour (lowest in Prince Edward Island, highest in Newfoundland and Labrador), with a national average of $28.
Training and Credentials
Some jobs in this sector require training credentials, apprenticeships, previous experience, or a combination of these. Financial support , such as the federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG), is available to meet these requirements.
Fourth: Jobs in the field of banking and finance
Canada's banking and financial sector is one of the country's economic powerhouses, contributing about $70 billion to the GDP.
Most in-demand jobs
Salary range
Salaries vary widely, and some jobs can start just above minimum wage. For example, a bank teller might earn between $15 and $35 per hour, depending on location, while a bank branch manager might earn between $25 and $95.
Training and Credentials
Some jobs in this industry may require a license, designation, or registration, such as a mutual fund license, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. Additional credentials, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Finance (MFin) degree, can also help job seekers stand out from the crowd. At some institutions, it is possible to complete one of these programs in two years or less.
Most Needy Counties
Major banks, such as National Bank of Canada, actively seek diverse employees, including newcomers, and have offices and branches across Canada. Some even have partnerships with agencies and programs that serve immigrants.
Fifth: Jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Canada places a strong emphasis on STEM jobs, trying to stay at the forefront of innovation in these fields and therefore these occupations are included in Canada’s priority sectors for immigration. Some of these jobs overlap with technology and healthcare jobs, such as data scientists or computer engineers, but most are in specific industries, such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy and academia.
There is also an increasing focus on women in STEM fields, including Engineers Canada’s “30 by 30” initiative, which aims to raise the proportion of female engineers in Canada to 30% by 2030.
Most in-demand jobs
Training and Credentials
While many STEM jobs require higher education, including master's and doctoral degrees, many junior positions in these fields do not require a college degree.
Applicants may need to be licensed (e.g., engineers) or registered with regulatory agencies. For the federal government's Express Entry priority for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs, work experience is an eligibility requirement.
Most Needy Counties
STEM jobs are available across Canada. You’re likely to find more opportunities—but also more competition—in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver than in less populated areas of Canada.
In conclusion, working in Canada can be viewed as a win-win for both immigrants and the country. From healthcare to engineering, construction to technology, Canada offers many opportunities for skilled immigrants from all over the world. By recognizing the importance of these key job sectors and matching their skills and experience accordingly, immigrants can work in jobs that not only benefit their lives but also contribute to Canada’s continued prosperity and diversity.
As immigrants bring their expertise and innovation to these vital jobs, they play an indispensable role in shaping the future of Canada’s workforce and society as a whole.
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Source: moneysense , cicnews