Candidates who qualify for the Express Entry program’s new trade category will most likely receive the ITA(Invitation to Apply) for Canadian permanent residency. On February 27, 2025, the Canadian Immigration Authority, IRCC(Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada), made significant changes to the Canada Express Entry Program.
Adding 19 new vocations to the commerce category is one of the Canada Immigration Program’s noteworthy modifications.
It reflects the country’s urgent need to fill labor shortages in the construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors. In this article, we are going to provide complete details about the changes made in the trade category.
Understanding New Trade Category of Express Entry Program
The 2025 Express Entry program changes are meant to align Canada’s immigration policies with the country’s changing labor market needs. The Trades stream has been redesigned to focus on those occupations with extreme shortages.
These additions include positions ranging from construction managers to heavy-duty equipment mechanics, thus creating more avenues for skilled tradespeople to secure permanent residency.
Advantages of New Trade Category
The updated trade category offers the following strategic advantages:
Focused Immigration
By focusing on occupations with severe labor shortages, Canada can better meet its economic demands and maintain the viability of its infrastructure initiatives.
More Opportunities for Skilled Workers
Adding more trades gives more professionals a chance to immigrate to Canada, making Canada’s workforce more diverse.
Simplified Express Entry Program Process
The draw-based category system makes it easier for qualifying tradespeople to immigrate, which may result in accelerated processing and more direct routes to permanent residence.
Promoting Economic Growth
It aids in growing crucial sectors, including construction and manufacturing, which are essential for the economic development of Canada.
Significant additions in the Trade Category
The Canadian immigration authority, IRCC, has added 19 new occupations to the Express Entry trade category.
- Oil and gas drilling and services, contractors and supervisors, (NOC 82021)
- Floor covering installers (NOC 73113)
- Painters and decorators (NOC 73112)
- Roofers and shinglers (NOC 73110)
- Concrete finishers (NOC 73100)
- Related occupations and other technical trades (NOC 72999)
- Water well drillers (NOC 72501)
- Electrical mechanics (NOC 72422)
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401)
- Bricklayers (NOC 72320)
- Cabinetmakers (NOC 72311)
- Gas fitters (NOC 72302)
- Industrial electricians (NOC 72201)
- Sheet metal workers (NOC 72102)
- Machining and tooling inspectors and Machinists (NOC 72100)
- Home construction and renovation managers (NOC 70011)
- Construction managers (NOC 70010)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Construction estimators (NOC 22303)
Eligibility Criteria for the Express Entry Program’s Trades Category
Candidates must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the trade category under the Express Entry program.
Work Experience
Candidate should have at least six months of full-time and continuous work experience (or equivalent part-time work experience) in the last three years in a category of eligible occupations.
Occupation Alignment
The applicant’s work experience should closely resemble the lead statement and include many primary duties from the listed NOC code related to the job.
Single Occupation Focus
The six months of work experience should be under a single occupation; experiences in different occupations should not be mixed.
Language Ability
Although individual language requirements will differ, English or French proficiency is generally required to show that the individual can become part of the Canadian labor force.
Applicants are urged to visit the Government of Canada’s NOC website to check their occupation’s eligibility and compliance with the criteria presented.
How do you check if your occupation is eligible or not?
To check if your occupation is eligible for the trade category, you must follow the steps as mentioned below:
Step 01: Visit the Official NOC Website of the Canadian Government
Under this, candidates are required to visit the official NOC Code website of the Canadian government. After that, select “filter items” in the search bar to find the codes that closely align with your experience level. If necessary, try searching keywords for several title variations.
Step 02: Search each NOC code on the ESDC
The candidate must check each NOC code under the “search by NOC code” page on the Employment and Social Development Canada website.
After that, go through the lead statements and primary duties. To be eligible, your role must closely match the lead statement and involve a significant percentage of the responsibilities stated.
Step 03: Check if your NOC Code is mentioned above
Verify that the above additions in the trade occupations contain your NOC code. If so, your line of work qualifies for the Trade category.
Important to Note: It is impossible to combine two months of work experience in one eligible occupation with four months in another; the six months of work experience must be in a single occupation.
Conclusion
The Canada Express Entry program has expanded its trade category to 19 new occupations to address construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing labor shortages. The latest trade category offers focused immigration, more skilled worker opportunities, simplified immigration processes, and economic growth promotion.
Work experience, alignment, a single occupation focus, and language proficiency are among the requirements for eligibility. Applicants must check their NOC code on the Canadian Government’s NOC website.
For more details about the significant updates in Canada Immigration Programs, reach out to Keymart visa via +91 9911338722 or info@keymartvisa.com
