Ontario is targeting 6 technology occupations to fill local province needs for more skilled tech workers. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) supports employers by facilitating the immigration of top technology workers from around the world to meet their labour needs. Technology worker applications will be managed under the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream to become permanent residents of Canada.
The Canada tech economy has been booming in recent years, with future growth focused on Ontario. In January 2019, Slice identified Canada's next tech hubs:
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Waterloo, Ontario
- Kitchener, Ontario
- Cambridge, Ontario
A report from the Information and Communications Technology Council says Canada will be short nearly 220,000 skilled workers by 2021. Canada has been creating new programs to recruit tech firms and workers such as the Global Skills fast-track visa program to boost innovation and recruit high tech workers to Canada: the government has also approved a permanent Start-Up Visa Program for Entrepreneurs, and are providing private and public funding programs to support innovation and growth.
The six tech occupations Ontario is targeting based on employer needs and economic data are:
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
Canada's Provincial Nominee Program or PNP system allows each territory or province government to select immigrants based on the specific labour economic needs of that territory or province. You can discuss obtaining Permanent Resident status via PNP with an immigration lawyer familiar with how the PNP System works.
Ontario estimates processing time under their Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream is 30 – 60 days.
Canada Needs Tech Workers
Canada is experiencing an aging workforce and declining birthrate. The Canadian government has put into place new programs to increase technology worker immigration in order to improve Canada's economy, create new jobs and increase global competitiveness.
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