Which Professions Give You the Best Shot at a Provincial Nomination? — Guide to Express Entry-Aligned PNP Priority Occupations
Provinces and territories across Canada continue to use their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to target skills that meet local labour needs. If you want a fast track to permanent residence through an Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) PNP stream, working in an in-demand occupation dramatically increases your chances of receiving a provincial nomination — and an automatic 600 CRS points.
This article explains which sectors and professions provinces are prioritizing in 2025, how selection decisions are made, and practical steps you can take to improve your chances of being picked for a PNP nomination.
What provinces are looking for: the high-demand sectors (at a glance)
Many PNPs focus on the same broad economic priorities: health care, construction and trades, technology, agriculture, child care, and select skilled services. Below is a province-by-province summary of the priority sectors that most often lead to Express Entry-aligned nominations.
- Alberta: agriculture, aviation, construction, health care, technology, law enforcement
- British Columbia: childcare, construction, health care, technology, veterinary care
- Manitoba: targeted skilled recruitment initiatives (regional priorities vary)
- New Brunswick: education, health care, construction
- Newfoundland & Labrador: health care, ICT, aquaculture
- Nova Scotia: health care & social assistance, construction
- Ontario: health care, child care (and other labour priorities set per draw)
- Prince Edward Island: child care, health care, trades
- Saskatchewan: health care, technology, agriculture, trades
- Yukon / Northwest Territories: regulated health professions and TEER 0–3 occupations (territory specific)
- Northwest Territories & Yukon: small pools; priority tends to be regulated healthcare and occupations that meet territorial labour plans
Note: Provinces update priority lists and draw criteria frequently — provinces may also target specific NOC/TEER codes in individual draws.
Why some professions get prioritized
Provinces prioritize occupations that:
- Fill acute local labour shortages — e.g., nurses, paramedics, care aides, certain skilled trades.
- Support regional economic plans — agriculture in prairie provinces, aquaculture in Newfoundland, tech clusters in Alberta and BC.
- Deliver essential public services — child care workers, teachers, health professionals.
- Bring high economic impact — entrepreneurs and senior managers under entrepreneur streams.
When a province issues Express Entry-aligned nominations, it typically looks for candidates whose occupation, salary level, and location match local needs and who are most likely to settle successfully.
Typical occupations that perform well for Express Entry-aligned PNPs
The occupations often favoured across multiple jurisdictions include (grouped by sector):
Health care
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Licensed practical nurses / licensed practical nurses (LPN)
- Physicians and specialists (where province has physician priorities)
- Personal support workers (in some provincial streams)
- Allied health professionals (radiology techs, lab techs, respiratory therapists)
Skilled trades & construction
- Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders
- Heavy equipment operators, crane operators
- HVAC technicians, industrial mechanics
Technology & ICT
- Software developers and engineers
- Data analysts, cloud and cybersecurity specialists
- ICT business analysts and system designers
Child care & education
- Early childhood educators (ECEs) / child care workers
- Teachers in priority subject areas (regional)
Agriculture & food processing
- Farm managers, agricultural technicians
- Food processing and fishery workers in coastal provinces
Other high-impact roles
- Agricultural and agri-food technicians
- Veterinary technologists in BC and rural areas
- Law enforcement occupations in specific Alberta pathways
How provinces select candidates for Express Entry-aligned nominations
Provinces use one or more of these approaches:
- Direct draws from the national Express Entry pool (enhanced PNP): provinces search the federal pool for profiles matching targeted occupations, languages, and CRS thresholds and then invite candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
- In-province employer-driven streams: priority for candidates already working for a local employer with a valid job offer.
- Strategic recruitment initiatives and missions: provinces sometimes recruit abroad for specific needs and then invite participants.
- Points or EOI systems (e.g., BC PNP’s SIRS, PEI EOI): candidates score against a provincial rubric; high scorers are issued invitations.
Provinces can and do set additional requirements such as minimum wage thresholds, location restrictions (e.g., rural vs. metro), language levels, and specific TEER/NOC codes.
Practical steps to improve your chance of a provincial nomination
- Match your occupation to provincial priorities: research which provinces prioritize your TEER/NOC code and tailor your applications or job search accordingly.
- Gain Canadian work experience or a valid job offer: many provinces favour in-Canada candidates or those with employer support.
- Target high-impact occupations: health care, trade certifications, tech specializations and ECEs are regularly in demand.
- Improve language scores: stronger English/French results increase both Express Entry CRS and provincial competitiveness.
- Get credential recognition where needed: regulated professions will often require provincial licensing or certification paperwork before nomination.
- Show settlement intent and ties to the province: employer letters, residency history, and local job offers help.
- Keep your Express Entry profile up to date: ensure occupation, job offer, and language test results are current so provinces can find accurate matches.
What to watch for in 2026 and beyond
Provincial priorities can shift rapidly in response to local labour markets, federal nomination allocations, and economic cycles. Watch for:
- Sector-specific draws (e.g., health authority draws in BC, nursing or physician priorities)
- Temporary caps and allocation changes — provinces may change intake volumes or favour in-province transitions during allocation reductions
- TEER/NOC reclassifications that affect eligibility for certain streams
Bottom line
If you want the best shot at a provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned PNP, focus on occupations that provinces list as priorities — particularly health care, trades and construction, technology, agriculture, and child care — and build a profile that checks the boxes: relevant experience, a valid job offer (where required), strong language results, and up-to-date credentials or licensing. Strategic targeting, careful documentation, and timely applications are what convert labour demand into a successful provincial nomination.
