A positive leap for the British Columbia provincial program

In 2019, British Columbia saw a positive jump in the number of skilled workers through the Provincial Selection Program (PNP). According to the BC PNP’s annual statistical report, 2019 saw the highest number of registrants, the most productive year for technology pilots and the most provincial appointees in a single year. A total of 6,551 people have been granted permanent residency through British Columbia’s provincial selection. Every week, through its BC PNP, the province invites applicants for skilled labor in one of 29 engineering, technology and business support services job groups.

Skilled Worker (SI) immigration is one of two immigration streams administered by the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). This stream is for skilled foreign workers who want to live in Canada’s westernmost province. About 99% of people selected for permanent residence by British Columbia fall into this category. The immigration of entrepreneurs accounts for the remaining 1% of the elected.

The technology pilot is part of the provincial government’s strategy to turn British Columbia into a hub for new and emerging technologies and help grow the existing technology sector in this province. This program aims to attract skilled workers in the field of technology to British Columbia and facilitate the immigration process.

The migration flow of skilled workers

This stream is a pathway to permanent residency for qualified foreign workers who usually have a job offer in British Columbia.

Five groups are included in the flow of skilled labor migration, four of which are synchronized with the federal government’s Express Entry system:

Specialist workforce group – for people who have a job offer and several years of experience in a specialized job.

Professional therapy group – Doctors, nurses, psychiatric nurses or professional therapy staff with a job offer in one of the 11 eligible jobs can apply for this group.

International Graduate Group – For workforce who have graduated from an accredited Canadian college or university within the last three years.

Graduates of International Higher Education Group – Masters or PhD graduates in one of the fields of natural, applied or therapeutic sciences from post-secondary educational institutions in British Columbia can apply for this group without a job offer.

Entry-level and semi-skilled workforce group – for entry-level or semi-skilled workforce in occupations related to tourism, hotel and hospitality, food processing or heavy road truck driving, or individuals in entry-level or semi-skilled employment positions in the developing North They live and work in eastern British Columbia. This group is the only SI category that is not applicable for Express Entry system applicants.

About 75% of this skilled workforce intended to live in Vancouver.

Most common jobs for new immigrants

Food service and restaurant manager (8.4%)

Manager of retail and wholesale stores (5.8%)

Software designer and engineer (4.3%)

illustrator and graphic designer (4.2%)

Truck driver (4.1%)

According to a report from the province of British Columbia, the average salary of SI electors in 2019 has increased significantly compared to 2018. The increase in income of the groups of international graduates (19.5%), skilled labor (13.4%) and British Columbia Express Entry international graduates (13.1%) was more than the other groups.

The technology pilot is part of the provincial government’s strategy to turn British Columbia into a hub for new and emerging technologies and help grow the existing technology sector in this province. This program aims to attract skilled workers in the field of technology to British Columbia and facilitate the immigration process.