The Canadian government is reforming the immigration system to offer express entry to skilled immigrants who want to come here as permanent residents, as a way to fill open jobs where there are no available Canadian workers.

Express Entry could be offered to skilled immigrants who have put in an application through the federal skilled worker programme, the federal skilled trades programme the Canadian experience class, and a portion of the provincial nominee programme.

In preparation for the launch of the new immigration system, the government began accepting 25,000 applications under the federal skilled worker program​ on May 1, 2014, up from 5,000 applications it accepted the year before. It also more than doubled the number of professions skilled immigrants can apply for.

Canada is actively recruiting skilled immigrants for the federal skilled worker programme in the following 50 occupations, which the government says reflect the latest labour market needs:

  • Senior managers — financial, communications and other business services.
  • Senior managers — trade, broadcasting and other services, not elsewhere classified.
  • Financial managers.
  • Human resources managers.
  • Purchasing managers
  • Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers.
  • Managers in health care.
  • Construction managers.
  • Home building and renovation managers.
  • Managers in natural resources production and fishing.
  • Manufacturing managers.
  • Financial auditors and accountants.
  • Financial and investment analysts.
  • Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers.
  • Other financial officers.
  • Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations.
  • Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers.
  • Property administrators.
  • Geoscientists and oceanographers.
  • Civil engineers.
  • Mechanical engineers.
  • Electrical and electronics engineers.
  • Petroleum engineers.
  • Information systems analysts and consultants.
  • Database analysts and data administrators.
  • Software engineers and designers.
  • Computer programmers and interactive media developers.
  • Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians.
  • Construction estimators.
  • Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians.
  • Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics.
  • Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety.
  • Computer network technicians.
  • Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors.
  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses.
  • Specialist physicians.
  • General practitioners and family physicians.
  • Dietitians and nutritionists.
  • Audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
  • Physiotherapists.
  • Occupational therapists.
  • Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists.
  • Medical radiation technologists.
  • Medical sonographers.
  • Licensed practical nurses.
  • Paramedical occupations.
  • University professors and lecturers.
  • Psychologists.
  • Early childhood educators and assistants.
  • Translators, terminologists and interpreters.

Within the 25,000 cap, the government will process a maximum of 1,000 applications submitted for each application set out above.

The current list was published by the Immigration Department under “ministerial instructions,” which governments use to change laws without debate.