Ottawa updates NOC to address 'acute' labour shortages
Looking to address “acute” labour shortages across the country, Ottawa has announced the implementation of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 for immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system.
Through this update, 16 occupations that were not previously eligible can now benefit from expanded pathways to permanent residency, such as nurse aides, long-term care aides, hospital attendants, elementary and secondary school teacher assistants, and transport truck drivers.
“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,” says Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion.
In April, Ottawa announced new measures around immigration, including draws for Express Entry and post-graduation work permits.
16 occupations
Foreign nationals with work experience in the following 16 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
In September, Ottawa said it was b by making it easier for them to get permanent residency in the country.
Updated every 10 years
The NOC system is used to track and categorize all jobs in the Canadian labour market and is updated to reflect changes in the economy and in the nature of work. Changes to the system support the government’s commitment to expand pathways to permanent residency for temporary workers and international students, as more jobs will become eligible for the programs managed under Express Entry, says Ottawa.
Employment and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada work together to update the NOC on an ongoing basis, with major reviews occurring every 10 years, to ensure it reflects the changing labour market. The review involves in-depth research, analysis, and assessment of the feedback received through consultations and occupational research. Input from the public and stakeholders is an integral part of the review process.
In August, the federal government announced it was extending work permits for foreign nationals.
Research and analysis of occupations, skills, and competencies for the NOC have been ongoing since its introduction in the early 1990s.
Sources of research include data from censuses, other classifications, employment services and job advertisements, job and career descriptions, educational and training material, regulations and professional associations’ material, government, business and labour organizations’ input, public and private sector feedback, employment program material, and issues identified by Statistics Canada through coding surveys.
