Ottawa is set to introduce additional express entry pathways for certain permanent residency applicants in high-paying occupations, announced Immigration Minister Lena Diab on Friday. The government will eliminate the requirement for employers to demonstrate the unavailability of qualified Canadians for these positions.
Effective November 3, the new policies will benefit applicants with existing Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage sectors like engineering. A high-wage job is defined as one paying at least 1.3 times the median wage, with the number of express entry points aligned with the salary level.
According to the Canada Job Bank, the national median hourly wage stands at $55.03. Furthermore, a temporary measure will waive the need for an employer to provide a Labour Market Impact Assessment for eligible jobs under the updated express entry system.
This initiative aims to streamline the application process and forms part of the government’s ongoing efforts to attract more high-earning immigrants to Canada. Specific sectors such as medicine, skilled trades, transportation, and research have been targeted for increased express entry points.
Candidates already in the express entry pool will have their scores adjusted to incorporate the new points assigned for Canadian work experience and job offers. The Immigration Department anticipates a two-week period for recalculating scores, during which invitations for permanent residency applications will be temporarily halted.
