ESDC includes five new streams to Global Talent Stream (GTS) on December 22, 2022, supplementing the list of eligible occupations.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) looks after Canada’s labor market requirements covering multiple aspects of skilled worker immigration, such as issuing Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approvals.
ESDC supports Canadian employers to meet their labor needs through Global Talent Stream, which is an exclusive work permit program to speed up the immigration of foreign skilled workers and help Canadian employers fill up job positions in the technology sector quickly.
The Global Talent Stream aims to address job vacancies in 17 in-demand professions because of inadequate local supply. The program expedites the work permit process by setting a service standard of two weeks.
New occupations in the Global Talent Stream
With the addition of the five new occupations, the total number of eligible occupations under the Global Talent Stream becomes 17. The new engineering roles are:
- Aerospace engineers – NOC 21390
- Civil engineers – NOC 21300
- Computer engineers – NOC 21311
- Electrical and electronics engineers – NOC 21310
- Mining engineers – NOC 21330
The addition of these occupations to the Global Talent Stream is in response to the evolving labor market needs of the country. It reflects the shortage of local candidates to fill job positions under these occupations.
Specific measures to meet labor market needs
Canada is increasingly adopting the occupation-specific approach to welcome new immigrants addressing its labor market requirements. The following steps highlight the shift in Canada’s immigration strategy:
Introduction of Bill C-19 authorizing immigration minister to form groups in the Express Entry pool which will target specific occupations in 2023
Launch of New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP) fulfilling the local labor market needs by catering to six employers
Addressing record shortage of healthcare professionals by removing barriers to permanent residence for physicians applying through the Express Entry system.
