The Canadian Immigration Minister has unveiled a new pathway for international students who have completed their post-secondary education in Canada to obtain permanent residency. Starting
The Canadian Immigration Minister has unveiled a new pathway for international students who have completed their post-secondary education in Canada to obtain permanent residency.
Starting this summer, the Canadian government plans to launch a new pathway under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) program. This new initiative aims to assist employers in hiring skilled refugees and other displaced individuals to address labour shortages.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the EMPP program will connect qualified displaced individuals with Canadian employers seeking to fill labour shortages in various critical occupations. This would enable Canada to welcome vulnerable people while providing Canadian employers with access to a previously untapped talent pool of individuals with skills that can contribute to the economy’s growth.
The new federal pathway offers employers greater opportunities to fill in-demand positions across several sectors, including nursing, personal support, long-term care, software engineering, web design, mechanical and electrical engineering, teaching, tourism, hospitality, and transportation. The EMPP offers employers another avenue to address their labour market needs while providing candidates with an opportunity to rebuild their careers and lives in safety with their families in Canada.
Moreover, the EMPP will be more inclusive, as it will now accept other displaced people who lack a permanent solution and require international protection.
As these individuals integrate into Canadian society, they can help fill gaps in the labour force, contribute to local economies, and enrich communities. More information on eligibility criteria for the new federal pathway will be available on the IRCC EMPP website in the coming weeks.
Immigration Target: 2023-225
The acute shortage of labour in critical markets has prompted many to consider immigration as a viable solution. The 2023-2025 plan recognizes the potential of immigration to help businesses find workers and attract skilled individuals to key sectors like healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and technology. This, in turn, will help Canada tackle the social and economic challenges it faces in the future.
In the next three years, Canada plans to increase the number of new immigrants entering the country annually. The target for this year is 465,000 new immigrants, rising to 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025. The primary objective of these ambitious immigration goals is to alleviate labour shortages across Canada.
Additionally, the plan seeks to expand regional programs like the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot to address specific local labour market requirements.
