Securing a job is an integral step for temporary residents in Canada. They don’t just have to establish themselves economically but also build eligibility for economic pathways to gain permanent residence. Here are the most in-demand jobs in Canada under Express Entry. Well, in light of this, many newcomers are interested in in-demand jobs in Canada. This knowledge can help to inform their employment search better & enable their immigration journey. 

In an aim to better adjust immigration to labor force needs, IRCC introduced Express Entry category-based selection draws to target applicants in the Express Entry pool who have experience in professions that Canada critically requires workers for.

The categories that IRCC targets are made up of in-demand professions in five different fields: 

  • Healthcare 
  • STEM Professions 
  • Trades
  • Transport 
  • Agriculture/ Agri-Food 

As such, we can look upon the list of targeted professions to better understand not just what jobs are in demand in the labor market but also which jobs IRCC believes it must target to support the Canadian labor market via immigration. Correlating these professions identified by IRCC with other in-demand professions identified by human resource consulting firms & popular job boards demonstrates overlap among many identified professions.  

Note: The below lists for Healthcare & STEM professions will cover the most common job titles as per IRCC’s list. Occupation lists for the other categories will cover in-demand professions in full. NOC 2021 codes of professions are also given for reference. 

Healthcare Professions 

Healthcare is one of the most in-demand jobs in Canada under Express Entry. 

The professions cover workers in various positions, like physicians, physiologists, psychologists, & many more. Of these professions, the work titles include: 

  • Nurses 

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

  • Lab/ Medical Assistants & Technical Medical Staff 

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

STEM Professions 

STEM professions cover professions from a number of fields, like architects, surveyors, data scientists, etc. Among this category, the most common professional titles included:

  • Engineers 

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

  • Business & Computer Systems Specialists 

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

Trade Professions

The trades profession category focuses on occupations related to skilled trades required for manufacturing, construction, repairs, etc. These are: 

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

Transport Professions 

Transport professions include professions that support the commercial transport of goods & people. The professions include: 

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

Agriculture/ Agri-Food Professions 

The last & one of the most in-demand jobs in Canada under Express Entry is Agriculture/ Agri-food professions. 

Agriculture or agri-food professions are associated with farming, landscaping, & production of food & produce. The professions include: 

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

Am I Eligible For Category-Based Selection? 

In order to be eligible for these categories, candidates should have obtained a minimum of six months of continuous work experience in the past three years in Canada/ abroad & already have an Express Entry profile. 

Once applicants have submitted a profile under one of the three Express Entry programs, i.e., FSTP, FSWP, & CEC, they must wait until a relevant Express Entry draw delivers an ITA for PR, based on the inclusion in one of the above professional categories or CRS score. CRS scores are IRCC’s usual method of ranking immigrant applicants based on their human capital factors. 

Once an ITA is obtained, applicants have around 60 days to submit a complete application for PR. If this application is approved, applicants are granted PR status & obtain a COPR, i.e., Confirmation Or Permanent Residence. From here, they are free to settle permanently in Canada.