Most Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) identify priority sectors and occupations that they target for permanent residence (PR).
If you are employed in, or have a job offer for, an eligible in-demand occupation, your chances of receiving a provincial nomination increase significantly.
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Many provinces regularly select candidates from the federal Express Entry pool whose primary occupations match provincial labour market needs. These candidates receive invitations to apply for a provincial nomination through Express Entry aligned (enhanced) streams.
A provincial nomination provides 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in Express Entry and gives access to faster application processing.
This article outlines each province’s priority sectors and occupations and identifies the Express Entry linked streams where candidates in in-demand professions have an advantage.
Priority sectors by province or territory
| Province or Territory | Sectors in Demand |
|---|---|
| Alberta | Agriculture; Aviation; Construction; Health care; Technology; Law enforcement |
| British Columbia | Childcare; Construction; Health care; Technology; Veterinary care |
| New Brunswick | Education; Health care; Construction |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Health care; Information and communications technology; Aquaculture |
| Nova Scotia | Health care and social assistance; Construction |
| Ontario | Health care; Child care; Other sectors identified through draw trends |
| Prince Edward Island | Child care; Health care; Trades |
| Saskatchewan | Health care; Technology; Agriculture; Trades |
| Northwest Territories | Not available |
| Yukon | Regulated health care professions |
Throughout this article, occupations are referenced using Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, which organizes jobs into six TEER categories from 0 to 5, according to training, education, experience, and responsibilities.
Priority sectors and Express Entry linked streams
Below is a summary of each province’s priority sectors with the related Express Entry aligned streams where being in an in-demand occupation provides an advantage.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Alberta Express Entry |
| Aviation | Alberta Express Entry |
| Construction | Alberta Express Entry |
| Health care | Alberta Express Entry Dedicated Health Care Pathway |
| Technology | Alberta Express Entry Accelerated Tech Pathway |
| Law enforcement | Alberta Express Entry Law Enforcement Pathway |
Alberta has not listed specific priority occupations for agriculture, aviation, or construction.
Eligible tech and health care occupations are available on the AAIP website.
Eligible law enforcement NOC codes:
- NOC 40040 Commissioned police officers and related services
- NOC 41310 Police investigators and similar occupations
- NOC 42100 Police officers except commissioned
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Childcare | Skilled Worker |
| Construction | Skilled Worker |
| Health care | Health Authority Express Entry BC, Skilled Worker |
| Technology | Skilled Worker |
| Veterinary care | Skilled Worker |
Health Authority eligible occupations and priority TEER 0 to 3 occupations are listed on the BC PNP website.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Education | Employment in New Brunswick Pathway, New Brunswick Interests |
| Health care | Employment in New Brunswick Pathway, New Brunswick Interests |
| Construction | Employment in New Brunswick Pathway, New Brunswick Interests |
New Brunswick has not published specific priority occupations. Any TEER 0 to 3 roles within these sectors appear to have an equal opportunity.
The province restricts Expressions of Interest for several NOC codes, including:
- 12200 Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- 13110 Administrative assistants
- 63202 Bakers
- 63200 Cooks
- 62010 Retail sales supervisors
- 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers
- 60030 Restaurant and food service managers
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Health care | Express Entry Skilled Worker |
| Information and communications technology | Express Entry Skilled Worker |
| Aquaculture | Express Entry Skilled Worker |
Occupations in these sectors receive priority processing and are exempt from provincial labour market testing.
A full list is available on the NLPNP website.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | Labour Market Priorities for Physicians, Labour Market Priorities, Experience: Express Entry |
| Construction | Labour Market Priorities, Experience: Express Entry |
The province prioritizes workers already in Nova Scotia, especially those with work permits expiring in 2025. Qualified overseas workers remain eligible.
Physician-only NOC codes:
- 31102 General practitioners and family physicians
- 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- 31101 Specialists in surgery
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Health care | Human Capital Priorities, French Speaking Skilled Worker |
| Child care | Human Capital Priorities, French Speaking Skilled Worker |
For the French Speaking Skilled Worker stream, applicants must meet CLB 6 in English and CLB 7 in French.
Ontario does not publish an official priority list, but draw patterns indicate strong demand in these sectors.
Prince Edward Island PNP
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Child care | PEI Express Entry |
| Health care | PEI Express Entry |
| Trades | PEI Express Entry |
PEI may also select candidates from other industries experiencing labour shortages.
The province prioritizes applicants already living and working in PEI.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Health care | ISW Health Talent Pathway, ISW Saskatchewan Express Entry, Saskatchewan Experience Health Talent Pathway |
| Technology | ISW Tech Talent Pathway, ISW Saskatchewan Express Entry, Saskatchewan Experience Tech Talent Pathway |
| Agriculture | ISW Saskatchewan Express Entry |
| Trades | ISW Saskatchewan Express Entry |
Saskatchewan has not identified specific priority occupations but publishes sector caps and lists of ineligible occupations.
Seventy five percent of nominations must go to applicants already in Canada.
Northwest Territories Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Any TEER 0 to 3 occupations | NWT Express Entry |
No priority sectors have been announced for 2025.
Applicants with valid work permits are currently prioritized.
Yukon Nominee Program
| Sector | Express Entry Stream |
|---|---|
| Health care | Yukon Express Entry |
In 2025, Yukon prioritizes Expressions of Interest from:
- Individuals who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year
- Yukon University graduates
- Francophone applicants
- Recipients of a Temporary Measure Letter of Support
For overseas applicants, only regulated health care occupations are eligible.
