The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the number of economic immigrants settling in Ontario. Immigrants with a qualifying score in the Ontario PNP points calculator are now more likely to land in-demand jobs in Ontario – better suited for their academic and employment experience. Prior to the global pandemic, landing a job in Canada was quite difficult due to the sheer competition and limited number of ITAs being issued.
Pandemic-Fuelled Labour Shortage Helps Immigrants!
Labour market shortages in Ontario caused by the lockdown, border restrictions, and other health measures put in place owing to the COVID-19 pandemic – have finally changed.
Aspiring economic immigrants with a qualifying score in the Ontario PNP points calculator are now finding better in-demand jobs in the province.
Sohrab Rahmaty, the research coordinator at the Workforce Planning Board, stated in a report, “COVID-19 has shifted the local labor market in Wellington, Waterloo, and Dufferin where we can find an increase in the number of jobs which require specialized skills and education and a decrease in general labor roles.”.
“An important opportunity exists for internationally-trained professionals who have arrived with the National Occupation Classification (NOC A) and (NOC B) level skills to gain employment in their fields based on the changing nature of the labor market in Ontario.”, he added.
The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is Canada’s way of assigning occupations. NOC A occupations are skilled professionals who usually require a degree from a university. Such jobs include Doctors, Engineers, and Architects. Whereas, NOC B jobs are those technical occupations, including those immigrating under Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – which usually requires a college diploma or on-job training. Such jobs include Chefs, Delivery Executives, and Plumbers.
Sohrab Rahmaty notes in a statement, “The case for internationally-trained professionals and workforce development in Waterloo, Wellington, and Dufferin wasn’t always the same. Labor shortages in that region made it more likely for highly-skilled immigrants to land ideal jobs.”.
Immigrants Struggling to Land Jobs in Their Fields
Sohrab Rahmaty wrote, “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the skills and education of economic-class immigrants coming to Ontario and throughout Canada, did not sync effectively with the labor market needs for general labor roles outweighed demand for skilled talent.”.
As a result, the skills and education of many immigrants, even after having a qualifying score in the Ontario PNP points calculator – remained underutilized.
At present, a majority of employers in Ontario are struggling to find good professionals, and the high number of skilled professionals immigrating under, and meeting the Canada Express Entry eligibility and other FSWP program prerequisites – offers a ray of hope. According to a recent survey of immigrants living in Ontario, immigrants coming to the province are highly educated – with around 71% of residents having a bachelor’s degree or above, compared to the 23% of the general population.
The pivotal impact of these changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic has created a window of opportunity for skilled immigrants seeking to work in Ontario. The COVID-19 pandemic has essentially accelerated the need for skilled professionals, more so than in the past.
With Canada’s new and enhanced “Immigration Level Plans for 2022-2025”, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will seek to welcome over 150,000 skilled immigrants every year. Candidates meeting the Express Entry Canada eligibility – can apply under any of Canada’s economic immigration programs. Applying under a certain province will have its own requirements and point grid such as the Ontario PNP points calculator.
Ottawa Will Seek to Welcome a Record Number of Immigrants
According to data by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada has already managed to invite over 113,535 new permanent residents in the first three months of the year.
This record-breaking immigration intake for the first quarter of the year put Canada on track with its Immigration Level Plans. These massive numbers are 5.2% more than Ottawa’s already-ambitious immigration targets for 2022.
The growing level of immigration is touted by Ottawa as being the key to supporting & sustaining the labor market shortages in Canada.
Candidates with a qualifying score in the Ontario PNP points calculator have great chances of landing an in-demand job in Ontario.
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