In response to labor shortages, Ontario expands eligible occupations, creates new paths, and relaxes immigration requirements for trade and healthcare workers through OINP revisions.

Ontario Makes It Easy Immigration to Trade Workers and Nurses

With changes to its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Ontario is making immigration easier for skilled trade workers and medical professionals. The objective of these modifications, which impact the French-speaking skilled worker and Human Capital Priorities streams of Express Entry as well as the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills stream, is to draw in more elite talent and tackle labor shortages.

The province’s minister of immigration stressed the value of immigrants to Ontario’s inclusiveness and economic development. He outlined the province’s initiatives to increase immigration channels and lower obstacles for qualified workers, especially in the medical field.

A notable modification eliminates the requirement for a bachelor’s degree for nurses registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario in order to be eligible for the OINP Express Entry streams. This is relevant to job classifications like:

• NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
• NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
• NOC 31302 – Nurse practitioners
• NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses

This exemption solves the pressing need for healthcare personnel in Ontario’s long-term care facilities and gives nurses with international education additional chances to secure provincial nomination.

Additionally, the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream is being expanded by the OINP, bringing the total number of qualifying occupations from 22 to 56. This expansion comes after discussions to better match the program to the demands of the labor market in the province. Among the new professions are:

• NOC 14400 – Shippers and Receivers
• NOC 14402 – Production logistics workers
• NOC 65320 – Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
• NOC 74200 – Railway yard and track maintenance workers
• NOC 74203 – Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers
• NOC 74204 – Utility maintenance workers
• NOC 74205 – Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers
• NOC 75101 – Material handlers
• NOC 75119 – Other trades helpers and labourers
• NOC 75211 – Railway and motor transport labourers
• NOC 75212 – Public works and maintenance labourers
• NOC 85102 – Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
• NOC 94101 – Foundry workers
• NOC 94102 – Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters
• NOC 94103 – Concrete, clay and stone forming operators
• NOC 94104 – Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing
• NOC 94112 – Rubber processing machine operators and related workers
• NOC 94120 – Sawmill machine operators
• NOC 94121 – Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators
• NOC 94123 – Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders
• NOC 94142 – Fish and seafood plant workers
• NOC 94143 – Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
• NOC 94200 – Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers
• NOC 94202 – Assemblers and inspectors, electrical appliance, apparatus and equipment manufacturing
• NOC 94203 – Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors, industrial electrical motors and transformers
• NOC 94205 – Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing
• NOC 94211 – Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products
• NOC 94212 – Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors
• NOC 95100 – Labourers in mineral and metal processing
• NOC 95101 – Labourers in metal fabrication
• NOC 95103 – Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
• NOC 95104 – Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
• NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
• NOC 95107 – Labourers in fish and seafood processingFor employment situated anywhere in Ontario, the following occupation was added:
• NOC 75119 – Other trades helpers and labourersThe Ontario Retirement Communities Association acknowledges that additional healthcare staff are required to provide care for the aging population and supports these reforms. Additionally, the government is upping the minimum penalty to $10,000 for recruiters and employers who engage in fraudulent activity.The government’s dedication to expanding the healthcare workforce and guaranteeing citizens can receive care was emphasized by Ontario’s Health Minister. The federal government’s allocation to the OINP has increased by almost 100% since 2022, which is indicative of Ontario’s aggressive efforts to solve labor shortages.The Ontario Residential and Civil Construction Alliance applauded the OINP’s enhancements and emphasized the program’s function in drawing experienced tradespeople and construction laborers from abroad to help the province meet its labor market demands. These adjustments are thought to be essential for maintaining Ontario’s construction sector, particularly in light of the fact that many workers are expected to retire before the end of the decade.