On May 31st, 2023 Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) declared that it has completed the development of a new category-based selection process for Express Entry.
Why Is Healthcare a Priority Occupation for Canada Express Entry?
Healthcare is one of the industries in Canada with a serious labor shortage. This is due in part to Canada having one of the lowest birth rates in the world, as well as an aging population. For example, within the next seven years, it is predicted that nine million Canadians will reach retirement age, 65.
An aging population will put more strain on the healthcare system. Canada requires immigrants to compensate for a lack of younger Canadians and to fill these essential positions.
According to Statistics Canada, there were 144,500 vacant positions in the healthcare and social support sector as of March 2023, accounting for 17.7% of all job vacancies.
Express Entry Healthcare Occupations and NOC codes 2023
The first category-based occupations draw was a healthcare draw which took place on June 29, 2023. Out of the six recently introduced categories, healthcare occupations constitute the highest number of eligible occupations, totaling 35. These occupations include:
| Healthcare Occupation | NOC Code |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Education counsellors | 41320 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 31204 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32101 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
Do Many Immigrants in Canada Work as Healthcare Workers?
- Immigrants account for 1 out of every 4 healthcare sector workers.
- In Canada, immigrants make up about:
- 23% of registered nurses
- 35% of nurse aides and related occupations
- 37% of pharmacists
- 36% of physicians
- 39% of dentists
- 54% of dental technologists and related occupations
Are You Interested in Immigrating to Canada as a Healthcare Worker?
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