Is your occupation on Canada's ‘extreme demand’ list?
Is your occupation on Canada's ‘extreme demand’ list?
Canada is currently recruiting skilled workers and migrants. All applicants must pass a medical examination, security and criminal checks and prove that they have sufficient resources to support both themselves and their dependents.
The definition of a skilled worker varies from province to province as it depends on the specific needs of the territories. That said, all applications as a skilled worker are initially assessed on a combination of six selection factors and a point system.
The criteria reviewed are:
- Experience
- Age
- Education
- Language capability in English and/or French
- Adaptability
- Pre-arranged employment in Canada
The points system
The points system is clearly explained for each criterion. The idea is to score as many points as possible. Certain qualifications are more ‘in demand’ than others. For example, Canada is currently experiencing a shortage of nursing staff, teachers and engineers, while the ‘green’ industries are also struggling to find staff.
International experience
The Canadian authorities do not wish to encourage immigrants to enter the country and take jobs for which resident Canadians are already qualified. However, certain occupations almost require international experience such as banking, financial services or other business services. Despite a rise in unemployment levels, skills shortages are growing. Those without jobs are not necessarily fit to fill the highly skilled vacancies across Canada.
What occupations are in extreme demand?
The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism released a list of occupations in extreme demand in November 2008. Skilled worker applicants for permanent residency must show evidence of at least one year's experience under one or more of the following National Occupational Classification categories:
- Financial managers
- Computer and information systems managers
- Managers in health care
- Restaurant and food service managers
- Accommodation service managers
- Construction managers
- Financial auditors and accountants
- Geologists, geochemists and geophysicists
- Mining engineers
- Geological engineers
- Petroleum engineers
- Specialist physicians
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Audiologists and speech language pathologists
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Head nurses and supervisors
- Registered nurses
- Medical radiation technologists
- Licensed practical nurses
- University professors
- College and other vocational instructors
- Chefs
- Cooks
- Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
- Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- Contractors and supervisors, heavy construction equipment crews
- Electrician (except industrial and power system)
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
- Welders and related machine operators
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- Crane operators
- Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
- Supervisors, mining and quarrying
- Supervisors, oil and gas drilling and service
- Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
How will the list of in demand occupations affect me?
If you have experience in an occupation on that list, you will not need to provide evidence of pre-arranged employment. Essentially, for all applications submitted after 28 February, 2008, you must either have an occupation in extreme demand in Canada or have pre-arranged employment.
