The second half of the year looks good, as several Canadian provinces have issued lists of occupations that are in demand under different immigration programs for permanent residency.
From healthcare, agriculture, technology, education, construction, etc, these occupations are in demand, and Nigerians are encouraged to apply.
The specific province and immigration pathway chosen by candidates determine whether or not a job offer is required.
Several Canadian provinces have identified high-demand occupations and developed immigration paths for foreign workers with relevant experience.
According to the data, the provinces with the most in-demand jobs include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island. Canada has identified various occupations that potentially create an immigration path for Nigerians.
What occupations are in demand in Canada?
The jobs identified in the various provincial programs include:
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia: Education and Childcare Occupation
- Secondary school teachers
- Elementary and kindergarten teachers
- Early childhood educators and assistants
- Teacher assistants
- Social and community service workers
- French-speaking teachers
Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Alberta: In demand for Technology Occupations
- Data scientists
- Cybersecurity specialists
- Business systems specialists
- Information systems specialists
- Database analysts and administrators
- Software engineers and designers
- Software developers and programmers
- Computer systems developers and programmers
- Web developers and programmers
- Web designers
- Computer network and web technicians
- User support technicians
- Information systems testing technicians
- Computer and information systems managers
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and British Columbia: Home to construction related occupations
- Construction managers
- Home building and renovation managers
- Electricians Industrial electricians
- Welders
- Carpenters
- Bricklayers
- Plumbers
- Steamfitters and pipefitters
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- Heating, refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics
- Crane operators
- Concrete finishers
- Roofers; heavy equipment operators
- Construction trades helpers and labourers
Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia: Healthcare Occupation
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Specialists in surgery
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Pharmacists
- Dentists
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Medical laboratory technologists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Paramedical occupations
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- Home support workers and caregivers
- Medical sonographers, dental hygienists
Saskatchewan and Quebec: Agriculture and Food Processing Occupation
Note: Some of Saskatchewan offers food processing and agriculture occupations while Quebec offers pilot program aimed at food-processing workers.
- Farm machinery operators
- Livestock labourers
- Harvesting labourers
- Nursery and greenhouse labourers
- Food and beverage processing machine operators; industrial butchers and meat cutters
- Poultry preparers
- Fish and seafood processing workers
- Food and beverage processing labourers
- Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
Alberta: Tourism and Hospitality Occupation
- Hospitality and tourism
- Restaurant and food service managers
- Accommodation service managers
- Food service supervisors
- Chefs
- Cooks
- Bartenders
- Hotel front desk clerks
- Tour and travel guides
- Food and beverage servers, kitchen helpers, etc
Note: These occupations are part of Alberta’s Tourism and Hospitality stream, which aims to connect workers with career opportunities in qualified occupations.
Do Nigerians require a job offer to work in Canada?
The qualifications vary according to the province and immigration pathway. For example, Saskatchewan’s Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand streams do not require a job offer, but Nigerians must achieve the points requirement and get an invitation to apply.
In contrast, Nova Scotia’s construction worker pathway requires candidates to receive a job offer from a Nova Scotia firm.
Similarly, Alberta’s Accelerated Tech Pathway focuses on individuals having employment offers in qualified technology occupations. Having experience in one of the mentioned occupations does not ensure provincial nomination. Applicants must meet the precise standards of the immigration stream they wish to use.
Canada announces new requirements for work permits
On May 27, 2025, Canada enacted a groundbreaking interim public policy under Section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
This policy permits temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada to start working with a new employer or occupation as soon as they submit their work permit application, eliminating the prior approval process.
The strategy seeks to address labor shortages, improve workforce mobility, and provide financial and professional stability to international workers.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued amended guidelines on July 29, 2026, amending the eligibility conditions for the C20 reciprocal employment exemption, which permits some foreign individuals to work in Canada without first passing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Previously, a foreign individual could obtain a C20 work visa even if employment with the foreign company was not scheduled to commence until after arrival in Canada.
