Canada is a land of diverse job opportunities for skilled professionals such as those working in occupations that require a high school degree or short-term on-the-job training, these positions are known as NOC/TEER 4 and 5, according to the National Occupational Classification, and are held by, for example, home child care providers, retail sales and visual merchandisers, landscaping and grounds maintenance workers, delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors. 

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Economic immigration programs play a crucial role in the labor market in Canada, and when industries and regions have difficulty finding workers, they become a golden opportunity for those who want to live and work in this country.

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If your educational background went as far as high school or you don't have a high school diploma, but you do have experience in a NOC/TEER 4 or 5 occupation, this article will be of interest to you because it will delve into the various avenues available to you for a brighter future in the "Great White North".

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 What is the Canadian occupational classification system?

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It is an assessment tool used by the Canadian government to identify and categorize jobs (occupations) based on the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) required by their applicants. Currently, the country uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to assess the skill levels of different occupations. There is a 2016 version on the official government website, but at the end of 2022 the government made a significant change to the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) system for this purpose, and it is the current 2021 version.

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Before and after the NOC/TEER system

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For a time, Canada's economic immigration efforts focused primarily on NOC/TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations, which are generally those that include managerial positions (NOC/TEER 0) and roles requiring college degrees (NOC/TEER 2 and 3) encompassing trades and occupations that typically require a college diploma or apprenticeship training. 

Now, since more recent years and also since the Covid-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) have focused their attention on candidates with NOC/TEER 4 and 5 occupations by shifting their focus to a much broader one. This was evident in the creation of temporary to permanent residence (TR to PR) pathways that facilitated the admission of immigrants during the pandemic and continues to narrow the immigration gap between Canada and many foreign nationals who are attracted as labor to fill shortages of employees in different occupations with or without higher education and job training.

In this regard, version 1.0 of NOC 2021 revises the "Skill Level" structure by introducing a new categorization that represents the degree of training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) required for an occupation, and also introduces a new 5-digit hierarchical structure, compared to a 4-digit hierarchical structure in previous versions of the classification. The NOC has been developed and maintained as part of a collaborative partnership between Employment and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada.  

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Relationship between NOC/TEER classification and Express Entry system

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Express Entry is the government's federal plan that is best known for being Canada's primary mechanism for welcoming economic class immigrants and typically caters to workers in NOC/TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations, i.e., skilled. In fact, the profile that Express Entry evaluates is based on 

• His skills.
• Your education.
• Your language skills (English/French).
• Your work experience.
• Other factors.

However, for NOC/TEER 4 and 5 there are several immigration programs specifically designed to address labor shortages in their respective areas. 

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Pathways to permanent residency for NOC/TEER 4 and 5 workers

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Below are some options towards permanent residency available to individuals with job offers and work experience in NOC/TEER 4 and 5.

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1. Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

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The PNP allows Canada's provinces and territories to create immigration programs according to their economic and population growth strategies, these are non-expedited entry systems and most provinces and territories participate, except Quebec and Nunavut. 

Here we share a list of the provinces and their programs:

• British Columbia: Skilled immigration category for entry level and semi-skilled.
• Alberta: Alberta Opportunity Stream.
• Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan experience category, Saskatchewan hard to fill skills pilot. In this YouTube video from Immiland find this topic expanded by clicking here.
• Manitoba: Manitoba Skilled Worker Flow. In this YouTube video from Immiland, find more details of this program by clicking here.
• Ontario: Job vacancies for in-demand skilled workers from Ontario.
• Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia In-Demand Occupations.
• New Brunswick: New Brunswick skilled worker with employer support.
• Prince Edward Island: Prince Edward Island Labor Impact Category - Critical Worker Flow.
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador skilled worker category.
• Yukon: Yukon critical impact worker.
• Northwest Territories: Semi-qualified employer-led occupations of the Northwest Territories.

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2. Quebec Migration Program

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The province of Quebec manages its own immigration plan, called the Pilot Permanent Immigration Program for Food Industry Workers, which provides a pathway to permanent immigration for French-speaking workers in the food processing sector. This program has specific eligibility criteria including age, education, work experience and language proficiency.

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3. Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP)

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The AIP is a federal immigration program that allows employers in the Atlantic provinces to hire foreign talent without requiring a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The Atlantic Intermediate Skills Program category of AIP is specifically designed for workers in NOC TEER 4.

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4. Pilot programs for family child care providers and in-home support workers.

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These federal immigration programs are designed for nannies and providers of parenting assistance and in-home support. Eligible NOC codes are 44100 (formerly 4411) and 44101 (formerly 4412), both of which are at the C skill level. Eligible candidates must meet specific requirements, which include work experience, language proficiency, and education. See more about this program on the official government website here.

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5. Pilot program for immigration in the agri-food industry.

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This federal program is aimed at individuals working in eligible industries engaged in meat processing, greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production, and agriculture. It requires candidates to have Canadian work experience, language proficiency and high school education. Read more about this program on the official government website here.

6. Pilot Immigration Program in Rural and Northern Areas (RNIP)

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The RNIP allows designated communities to nominate new residents for Canadian immigration. Eligibility criteria include work experience, education, language proficiency and community-specific requirements. Read more about this program on the official government website here.

We have reached the end of this article, we hope that the tour of the different provinces and their programs will help you evaluate which one best suits your skills and eligibility.

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At Immiland, we are happy to count on the wide variety of opportunities offered by the Canadian government, which is increasingly extending its commitment to economic immigration by offering jobs and permanent residency options to contribute to the rich cultural fabric of Canada. If you have any questions about your case, you can request a free assessment or schedule an appointment with an Immiland Canada regulated consultant. Learn more about our immigration services here.

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With love,

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Immiland

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