Workers from 16 new occupations eligible for PR under the updated NOC 2021 system
Canada has implemented the new National Occupational Classification or NOC 2021 system as of November 16, 2022. Through this update, 16 occupations that were not previously eligible can now benefit from expanded pathways to permanent residency. This includes nurse aides, long-term care aides, hospital attendants, elementary and secondary school teacher assistants, and transport truck drivers, among others.
The NOC system, which is used to track and categorize all jobs in the Canadian labour market has been updated to reflect changes in the economy and in the nature of work. Using the NOC 2021 categories will allow the country to bring in global talent in high-demand sectors like health care, construction, and transportation.
Announcing the implementation of the NOC 2021 for immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser said, “These changes will support Canadians in need of these services. They will support employers by providing them with a more robust workforce who we can depend on to drive our economy forward into a prosperous future.”
Also read: Canada’s 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan: 500,000+ permanent residents per year by 2025
“NOC 2021 is welcome news for Canadian employers, for newcomers to Canada ready to take on the jobs they are qualified for, and for a newly eligible group of workers who will now have an Express Entry path to permanent residency available to them. With these changes, we are better positioned to tackle labour shortages proactively and grow our economy with a stronger, skilled workforce,” said Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.
Foreign nationals with work experience in 16 new occupations are now eligible to apply through Express Entry
- Payroll administrators
- Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- Sheriffs and bailiffs
- Correctional service officers
- By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
- Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
- Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- Pest controllers and fumigators
- Other repairers and servicers
- Transport truck drivers
- Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
- Heavy equipment operators
- Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
Three occupations have been dropped from NOC 2021, but are still eligible for Express Entry under NOC 2016
These include:
- Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness
- Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners
- Other performers
Wondering what the new changes mean for candidates who applied before November 16 and those in the Express Entry pool?
Applications that were submitted before November 16 with be assessed under the previous NOC 2016, while applicant profiles in the Express Entry pool will have to be updated to reflect the new codes following the latest changes in NOC 2021.
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