Thousands of jobs for engineering managers in Canada are providing foreign nationals with a new opportunity to immigrate to Canada and gain permanent residence through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.

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In August, the Indeed job-hunting website listed 2,665 postings for engineering managers, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 20010.

The Jobbank federal job-hunting and career-planning website was then ranking the job prospects for engineering managers as good in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan over the next three years. Engineering managers’ job prospects were also ranked as moderate in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. 

The current labour shortages in Canada for engineering managers are expected to last for many years.

The Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) website projects that demand for engineering managers, which it lumps in with architectural and science managers, will be strong until at least 2031 as aging workers retire and demand for these services increases.

“The labour shortage conditions seen in recent years will not clear and are expected to persist over the projection period,” notes the COPS website.

“Job openings are expected to arise equally from employment growth and retirements. As workers in this occupational group tend to be older than average, the retirement rate is expected to be slightly higher than the national average.”

Occupation-targeted Express Entry draws offer foreign nationals a pathway to immigrate to Canada

When Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced earlier this year that Canada’s Express Entry system would begin targeting 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including engineering managers  – foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada gained a new pathway.

The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.

Candidates need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, for experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with work permits or as an international student with a student visa. 

In Canada, the median hourly wage for engineering managers is $57.69 but that varies from a low of $39.50 right up to $86.54 reveals Jobbank. 

Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means engineering managers can expect to earn up to $168,753 a year in Canada.

Under the changes announced at the end of May, the Express Entry streams, including the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are now more responsive to labour market needs.

“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed.  We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”

Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.

The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.

Immigration minister opened up 82 occupations to targeted Express Entry draws

Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.

IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.