Ontario Reveals 9 In-Demand Occupations Driving Permanent Residency Nominations
Healthcare and Tech Sectors Dominate as OINP Adjusts to Reduced 2025 Immigration Quota
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has released critical data highlighting the top occupations that led to permanent residency (PR) nominations in 2024. With 45% of all nominations attributed to just nine high-demand roles, the OINP is expected to maintain a strategic focus on these sectors throughout 2025—despite a nearly 50% reduction in provincial nomination allocations this year.
These insights offer a valuable guide for skilled professionals targeting Ontario as their destination for Canadian permanent residency.
OINP’s Reduced 2025 Quota Brings Strategic Shift
Ontario met its full nomination target of 21,500 in 2024. However, due to a federal adjustment in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations, the province received only 10,750 nomination spots for 2025—a dramatic cut of 50%.
To meet its new target, Ontario is focusing efforts on occupations that offer the highest labour market value, especially within the healthcare and technology sectors.
Top 9 Occupations Leading PR Pathways in Ontario
In 2024, these nine roles alone accounted for 9,500 of Ontario’s total 21,500 nominations. This signals a clear direction for 2025 priorities.
Healthcare Sector – 3,200+ Nominations (15% of Total)
With continued labour shortages in Ontario’s healthcare system, the province prioritized several essential healthcare occupations:
- Registered Nurses & Psychiatric Nurses – NOC 31301 (TEER 1)
- Pharmacists – NOC 31120 (TEER 1)
- General Practitioners & Family Physicians – NOC 31102 (TEER 1)
- Nurse Aides & Patient Service Associates – NOC 33102 (TEER 3)
These roles remain crucial to the province’s healthcare infrastructure and are expected to see continued PR support in 2025.
Technology Sector – 6,300+ Nominations (30% of Total)
Ontario’s booming tech industry continues to demand skilled professionals. The following roles received the most nominations:
- Software Engineers & Designers – NOC 21231 (TEER 1)
- Software Developers & Programmers – NOC 21232 (TEER 1)
- User Support Technicians – NOC 22221 (TEER 2)
- Information Systems Specialists – NOC 21222 (TEER 1)
- Business Systems Specialists – NOC 21221 (TEER 1)
These occupations reflect Ontario’s push to attract digital talent and support innovation across sectors.
Where Were Nominations Distributed in 2024?
Nominations in 2024 were spread across various OINP streams. The top streams included:
| Stream Name | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Express Entry – Human Capital Priorities | 6,330 |
| Express Entry – Skilled Trades | 4,101 |
| Masters Graduate Stream | 3,810 |
| Employer Job Offer – International Student | 3,283 |
| Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker | 2,731 |
| PhD Graduate Stream | 446 |
| Employer Job Offer – In-Demand Skills | 408 |
| Express Entry – French-Speaking Skilled Worker | 300 |
| Entrepreneur Stream | 91 |
The top three streams alone accounted for over 65% of all nominations.
New Policy on Application Returns: What Applicants Must Know
On July 2, 2025, the OINP introduced a new policy allowing application returns prior to nomination decisions. Under this policy:
- Applications not aligned with program or labour market needs may be returned with full fee refunds
- The move aims to improve efficiency, prioritize high-demand occupations, and maintain program integrity
This means that applicants must ensure their submissions are complete, well-documented, and aligned with provincial needs—especially if applying in popular streams such as tech or healthcare.
What to Expect from OINP in 2025
Although Ontario has fewer nominations to issue, the OINP remains one of Canada’s most robust immigration pathways. Here’s what to watch in the months ahead:
- Increased Competition: With fewer total slots, only the strongest candidates in in-demand roles will likely succeed
- Streamlined Processing: Expect faster decision-making under the new application return policy
- Ongoing Sector Prioritization: Healthcare and tech will dominate selections again this year
- Opportunities for Students and French Speakers: Tailored streams like the International Student and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams remain active
- Enhanced Screening: More rigorous assessments to ensure eligibility, job offer authenticity, and program fit
Prospective applicants should focus on building strong, targeted applications, gather supporting documentation early, and monitor stream-specific criteria closely.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
