Skills In-Demand in 2021

Skills In-Demand in 2021: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Canada is facing a labour shortage due in part to its aging population and continued skills shortages in certain provinces. To address these skills gaps, each province has identified lists of “Skills In-Demand” and offer easier and faster permanent residence (PR) processing to people who have the right experience.

A nomination in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will result in a bonus of 600 points toward the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, helping many applicants achieve a score above the required threshold to qualify for an Invitation to Apply for PR.

If you have a skill considered “in-demand” in a particular province, your chances of finding a job or qualifying for PR are much higher. A nomination may be your best strategy to fast-track your application. In some cases, having the required experience is enough to receive a nomination, even without a job offer in Canada.

It is important to note that each province has its own PNP assessment criteria, and their lists of Skills In-Demand may change from year-to-year. Without going into each province’s rules and guidelines too deeply, let’s first take a closer look at which skills are in-demand for each province for 2021.

Important to note: this list is not a complete list of all occupations in-demand in Canada, however, it is a good place to start. Some other occupations in-demand are covered under various other programs, such as AIPP, RNIP, YCP, however, this list should provide an idea of the main types of skill in-demand for each province covered under the various PNP programs.

If you find a skill that matches your profile, feel free to contact us for more information on how you may qualify for a provincial nomination.

If you are looking for more tips on applying for jobs, check out our previous blog on the subject: How to Get a Job in Canada: 6 Proven Tips

Now for the main attraction, we present the list of:

Skills In-Demand in 2021.

Use the search function to quickly find your occupation. Scroll left or right to view the provinces.

NOC	Skills In-Demand	British Columbia	Alberta	Manitoba	Ontario	New Brunswick	Nova Scotia	Prince Edward Island	Newfoundland & Labrador
0013	Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services								x
0015	Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c								x
0016	Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities								x
0111	Financial Managers			x
0112	Human resources managers			x
0114	Other administrative services managers			x
0113	Purchasing managers		x
0121	Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers			x
0122	Banking, credit and other investment managers			x
0124	Advertising, marketing and public relations managers			x
0131	Telecommunication carriers managers	x
0211	Engineering managers			x					x
0212	Architecture and science managers			x
0213	Computer and information systems managers	x		x					x
0311	Managers in Health Care			x					x
0423	Managers in social, community and correctional services			x
0512	Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts	x
0513	Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors			x
0601	Corporate sales managers			x
0621	Retail and wholesale trade managers		x	x
0631	Restaurant and food service managers								x
0632	Accommodation service managers								x
0651	Managers in customer and personal services, n.e.c.			x
0711	Construction managers			x
0712	Home building and renovation managers			x
0714	Facility operation and maintenance managers			x
0731	Managers in transportation			x
0821	Managers in agriculture			x
0822	Managers in horticulture		x
0911	Manufacturing managers			x
0912	Utilities managers			x
1111	Financial auditors and accountants			x			x
1112	Financial and investment analysts			x
1114	Other financial officers			x			x
1121	Human resources professionals			x
1122	Professional occupations in business management consulting			x
1123	Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations			x			x
1212	Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers			x
1215	Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations			x
1221	Administrative officers			x
1223	Human resources and recruitment officers			x
1224	Property administrators			x
1241	Administrative assistants			x			x
1242	Legal administrative assistants			x
1251	Court reporters, medical transcriptionists and related occupations			x
1311	Accounting technicians and bookkeepers			x			x
1313	Insurance underwriters		x
1411	General office support workers	x
1414	Receptionists	x
1415	Personnel clerks	x
1416	Court clerks	x
1422	Data entry clerks	x
1423	Desktop publishing operators and related occupations	x
1431	Accounting and related clerks	x
1432	Payroll administrators	x
1434	Banking, insurance and other financial clerks	x
1435	Collectors	x
1451	Library assistants and clerks	x
1452	Correspondence, publication and regulatory clerks	x
1454	Survey interviewers and statistical clerks	x
1511	Mail, postal and related workers	x
1512	Letter carriers	x
1513	Couriers, messengers and door-to-door	x
1521	Shippers and receivers	x
1522	Storekeepers and parts persons	x
1523	Production logistics co-ordinators	x
1524	Purchasing and inventory control workers	x
1525	Dispatchers	x
1526	Transportation route and crew schedulers	x
2121	Biologists and related scientists			x
2123	Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists			x
2131	Civil engineers			x		x	x
2132	Mechanical engineers	x		x
2133	Electrical and electronics engineers	x		x
2134	Chemical engineers	x
2141	Industrial and manufacturing engineers			x
2146	Aerospace Engineers					x		x
2147	Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)	x		x
2151	Architects			x
2154	Land surveyors			x
2161	Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries			x
2171	Information systems analysts and consultants	x	x	x
2172	Database analysts and data administrators	x		x
2173	Software engineers and designers	x	x	x
2174	Computer programmers and interactive media developers	x		x
2175	Web designers and developers	x		x
2211	Chemical technologists and technicians			x		x		x
2212	Geological and mineral technologists and technicians			x
2221	Biological technologists and technicians	x		x
2222	Agricultural and fish products inspectors			x
2231	Civil engineering technologists and technicians			x
2232	Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians			x		x		x
2233	Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians			x
2241	Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	x		x
2242	Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)	x		x
2243	Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics	x
2244	Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors			x
2253	Drafting technologists and technicians			x
2281	Computer network technicians	x		x
2282	User support technicians	x		x
2283	Information systems testing technicians	x	x
3012	Registered Nurse	x				x	x	x	x
3111	Physician	x				x	x	x	x
3112	General practitioners and family physicians		x			x	x	x	x
3113	Dentists		x						x
3121	Optometrists								x
3122	Chiropractors		x
3124	Nurse Practitioner	x
3124	Midwife	x
3131	Clinical pharmacist	x		x
3132	Dietitians and nutritionists			x
3141	Audiologists and speech-language pathologists			x		x		x
3142	Physiotherapists			x
3142	Physiotherapist	x
3143	Occupational therapists			x
3143	Occupational therapist	x
3211	Medical laboratory technologist	x		x
3212	Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants			x
3213	Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians			x
3214	Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists			x
3215	Medical radiation technologist	x		x
3216	Diagnostic medical sonographer	x	x
3219	Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)			x
3222	Dental hygienists and dental therapists			x
3231	Opticians		x
3233	Licensed Practical Nurse					x	x
3236	Massage therapists		x
3236	Massage therapists			x
3411	Dental assistants	x
3413	Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates	x		x	x	x	x	x	x
3414	Other assisting occupations in support of health services	x	x
4011	University professors and lecturers		x			x		x	x
4021	College and other vocational instructors						x
4031	School teachers								x
4112	Lawyers and Quebec notaries			x
4151	Psychologists			x
4152	Social workers			x		x		x
4153	Family, marriage and other related counsellors			x
4161	Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers			x
4163	Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants			x
4164	Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers			x
4165	Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers			x
4166	Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers			x
4167	Recreation, sports and fitness policy researchers, consultants and program officers			x
4168	Program officers unique to government			x
4211	Paralegal and related occupations			x			x
4212	Social and community service workers			x			x
4214	Early childhood educators and assistants			x
4215	Instructors of persons with disabilities			x
4245	Telecommunications line and cable workers			x
4246	Telecommunications installation and repair workers			x
4411	Home child care providers	x
4412	Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations	x	x		x	x		x	x
4413	Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants	x
4421	Sheriffs and bailiffs	x
4422	Correctional service officers	x
4423	By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers, n.e.c.	x
5121	Authors and writers	x
5122	Editors	x
5125	Translators, terminologists and interpreters	x
5131	Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations			x
5224	Broadcast technicians	x		x
5225	Audio and video recording technicians
5226	Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
5227	Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts
5241	Graphic designers and illustrators		x	x					x
5242	Interior designers and interior decorators			x
5243	Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers			x
5254	Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness			x
6211	Retail store supervisors					x
6221	Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade			x
6222	Retail and wholesale buyers	x		x
6232	Real estate agents and salespersons	x		x
6235	Financial sales representatives	x		x
6311	Food service supervisors	x	x	x		x
6312	Executive housekeepers	x
6321	Chefs
6322	Cooks		x	x		x			x
6331	Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale								x
6332	Bakers			x	x	x
6341	Hairstylists and barbers		x
6411	Sales and account representatives - wholesale trade (non-technical)					x		x	x
6421	Retail salespersons								x
6512	Bartenders		x						x
6513	Food and beverage servers					x		x	x
6521	Travel counsellors
6522	Pursers and flight attendants	x
6523	Airline ticket and service agents	x
6525	Hotel front desk clerks
6531	Tour and travel guides	x
6532	Outdoor sport and recreational guides	x
6533	Casino occupations	x
6541	Security guards and related security service occupations	x				x		x	x
6551	Customer services representatives - financial institutions	x
6552	Contact centre agent					x		x	x
6561	Image, social and other personal consultants	x
6562	Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations	x
6563	Pet groomers and animal care workers	x
6564	Other personal service occupations	x
6611	Cashiers	x
6621	Service station attendants	x
6622	Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers	x
6623	Other sales related occupations	x
6721	Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services	x
6722	Operators and attendants in amusement,	x
6731	Light duty cleaners	x
6732	Specialized cleaners	x
6733	Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents	x
6741	Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations	x
6742	Other service support occupations, n.e.c.	x
7154	Delivery Workers					x		x	x
7201	Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations				x	x		x
7202	Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations				x
7203	Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades				x
7204	Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades		x
7231	Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors			x
7232	Tool and die makers			x
7233	Sheet metal workers			x
7235	Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters				x
7236	Ironworkers				x
7237	Welders and related machine operators			x		x		x
7241	Electricians (except industrial and power system)			x	x	x
7242	Industrial electricians			x
7244	Electrical power line and cable workers		x	x	x
7251	Plumbers				x	x
7252	Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers				x	x		x
7271	Carpenters			x	x	x
7272	Cabinetmakers		x
7281	Bricklayers		x
7282	Concrete finishers		x	x	x
7283	Tilesetters		x
7284	Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers		x	x
7291	Roofers and shinglers		x		x
7292	Glaziers		x
7294	Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)			x
7295	Floor covering installers			x
7302	Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews		x		x
7311	Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics			x
7312	Heavy-duty equipment mechanics			x	x	x		x
7313	Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics		x	x	x
7314	Railway carmen/women				x
7315	Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors			x	x
7316	Machine fitters			x	x
7318	Elevator constructors and mechanics				x
7321	Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers		x	x	x
7322	Motor vehicle body repairers			x	x
7331	Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics				x
7332	Appliance servicers and repairers				x
7333	Electrical mechanics				x
7334	Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
7335	Other small engine and small equipment repairers				x
7361	Railway and yard locomotive engineers			x	x
7362	Railway conductors and brakemen/women			x	x
7371	Crane operators			x	x
7372	Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction				x
7373	Water well drillers				x
7441	Residential and commercial installers and servicers				x
7452	Material handlers					x		x	x
7511	Transport truck drivers	x	x		x	x	x	x	x
7512	Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators	x							x
7513	Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs	x
7514	Delivery and courier service drivers	x
7521	Heavy equipment operators (except crane)	x			x
7522	Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers	x
7531	Railway yard and track maintenance workers	x
7532	Water transport deck and engine room crew	x
7533	Boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations	x
7534	Air transport ramp attendants	x
7535	Other automotive mechanical installers and servicers	x
7611	Construction trades helpers and labourers	x			x
7612	Other trades helpers and labourers	x
7621	Public works and maintenance labourers	x
7622	Railway and motor transport labourers	x
8211	Supervisors, logging and forestry				x
8221	Supervisors, mining and quarrying				x
8222	Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services				x
8231	Underground production and development miners				x
8232	Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers				x
8241	Logging machinery operators				x
8252	Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers				x				x
8255	Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services				x
8261	Fishing masters and officers				x
8262	Fisherman/women				x
8411	Underground mine service and support workers	x
8412	Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators	x
8421	Chain saw and skidder operators	x
8422	Silviculture and forestry workers	x
8431	General farm workers	x			x	x		x	x
8432	Nursery and greenhouse workers	x			x
8441	Fishing vessel deckhands	x
8442	Trappers and hunters	x
8611	Harvesting labourers	x			x
8612	Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers	x
8613	Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers	x
8614	Mine labourers	x
8615	Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers	x
8616	Logging and forestry labourers	x
9241	Power engineers and power systems operators			x
9411	Machine operators, mineral and metal processing	x
9412	Foundry workers	x
9413	Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters	x
9414	Concrete, clay and stone forming operators	x
9434	Other wood processing machine operators	x
9435	Paper converting machine operators	x
9436	Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders	x
9437	Woodworking machine operators	x
9441	Textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers	x
9442	Weavers, knitters and other fabric making occupations	x
9445	Fabric, fur and leather cutters	x
9446	Industrial sewing machine operators	x
9447	Inspectors and graders, textile, fabric, fur and leather products manufacturing	x
9461	Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing	x
9462	Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers	x			x	x		x	x
9463	Fish and seafood plant workers	x				x		x	x
9465	Testers and graders, food and beverage processing	x
9471	Plateless printing equipment operators	x
9472	Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations	x
9473	Binding and finishing machine operators	x
9474	Photographic and film processors	x
9521	Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors	x
9522	Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers	x
9523	Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers	x
9524	Assemblers and inspectors, electrical appliance, apparatus and equipment manufacturing	x
9525	Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors, industrial electrical motors and transformers	x
9526	Mechanical assemblers and inspectors	x
9527	Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing	x
9531	Boat assemblers and inspectors	x
9532	Furniture and fixture assemblers and inspectors	x
9533	Other wood products assemblers and inspectors	x
9534	Furniture finishers and refinishers	x
9535	Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors	x
9536	Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operator	x	x
9537	Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors	x
9611	Labourers in mineral and metal processing	x
9612	Labourers in metal fabrication	x
9613	Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities	x
9614	Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing	x
9615	Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing	x
9616	Labourers in textile processing	x
9617	Labourers in food and beverage processing	x
9618	Labourers in fish and seafood processing	x
9619	Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities	x