Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is planning to create a new permanent residency category for workers with intermediate, semi-skilled levels. This change would require amending the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act.
The government aims to broaden the pool of potential immigrants to include individuals with a wider range of abilities and experiences. More details about the new immigration category, including eligibility criteria, will be released this fall.
Canada’s TEER System and Its Impact
Canada introduced the TEER system in 2022 to classify jobs based on education and training requirements. Jobs requiring higher education or apprenticeships fall under TEER levels 0-3, while those needing only a high school diploma or on-the-job training are categorized as TEER levels 4 and 5.
Currently, individuals working in TEER 4 and 5 occupations often face challenges in obtaining permanent residency through federal immigration programs like Express Entry. This has led to an increase in the number of temporary residents in Canada.
Many newcomers to Canada end up in lower-skilled jobs, such as those in the hospitality and retail sectors. This trend is particularly evident among temporary foreign workers and international students. As a result, these workers often earn low wages and struggle to establish themselves in the Canadian economy.
Canada Aims to Reduce Temporary Residents with PR Options
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is taking steps to decrease the number of temporary residents in Canada. This includes creating new permanent residency pathways for lower-skilled workers (TEER 4 and 5).
The number of temporary residents, which reached a record high of over 2 million in 2023, has become unsustainable for the Canadian economy. To address this, IRCC has implemented caps on international student applications and is planning to include temporary resident levels in its upcoming immigration plan.
The government is also prioritizing permanent residency for those already living and working in Canada through increased domestic Express Entry draws. This strategy helps to meet annual immigration targets while reducing the temporary resident population.
In essence, Canada is focusing on integrating existing temporary residents into the permanent population rather than relying solely on new foreign workers.
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