Canada’s IRCC announces Express Entry for Carpenters, Plumbers, and Welders from Nigeria, others

Canada has introduced a new immigration pathway specifically tailored for carpenters, plumbers, and welders from various countries, including Nigeria. The announcement was made by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Tuesday. This streamlined pathway aims to attract skilled workers with expertise in these critical trades to meet the growing demand for talent and fill essential positions that contribute to Canada’s economic growth and progress.

The country’s Express Entry (EE) system has been adapted to prioritize the invitation of skilled newcomers with experience in carpentry, plumbing, and welding. These category-based selection rounds will run throughout the year in addition to general invitation rounds. Further details on the process will be released in the coming weeks.

According to Marc Miller, the minister of IRCC, addressing the shortage of skilled trades workers is of utmost importance, and supporting the construction sector in finding and retaining the required workforce is part of the solution. He expressed enthusiasm in welcoming more skilled trades’ workers to Canada through this new immigration pathway.

Previously, in May, Sean Fraser, the former minister of IRCC, announced changes to the Express Entry system through category-based selection, aiming to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in priority jobs as permanent residents.

Canada’s Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to provide permanent residence to skilled workers, and it serves as the primary system for managing skilled worker applications for Canadian immigration.

The country’s efforts to attract large, young, and vibrant immigrants through immigration-friendly policies have been intensified due to its aging population and lower birth rate, which has resulted in a shrinking labor force. In line with this, the Canadian federal government announced its plan to welcome 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025, with a total of almost 1.5 million new immigrants over the next three years.

In 2022, Canada welcomed 437,120 Permanent Residents, marking an increase of nearly eight percent from the previous year. For Nigeria, the number of Permanent Residents grew by 41.9 percent to 22,130 last year from 15,595 in the previous year.