March 10, 2017 – The Quebec government has published a new Areas of Training List. An important component in the assessment of candidates under the Quebec Skilled Workers Program, it serves as a high demand occupations list to evaluate an applicant’s employability in relation to his or her education.  Quebec is the only province in Canada which directly examines education and areas of training in the context of future employability in the labour market.

The new rules clearly favour young professionals with strong French language skills.  Yet, many individuals will qualify to Quebec without any French proficiency.  This is especially the case for occupations in computer science, engineering, accounting, financial services, nursing and other fields.   Ideal candidates are those in their mid thirties with a bachelor’s degree and a strong knowledge of English.

At face value the new rules reduce the maximum number of points for areas of training from previous levels and raise the passing score needed to qualify.  The combined practical effect is that most intending applicants, will need to show competency in the French language, an area with significant importance under the selection factors.  Applicants with experience in high demand occupations will still be able to qualify under the new selection grid without any knowledge in French.

The revised list enumerates a wide range of studies awarding points to applicants and a spouse or de facto spouse for diplomas acquired outside Quebec or obtained in Quebec or recognized as Quebec equivalent.

The Quebec Skilled Worker program aims to select candidates with the highest probability of successful economic settlement potential.

The Province of Quebec administers its own immigration programs with selection criteria that are distinct and more predictable from those of federal and other provincial immigration programs.

Foreign nationals wishing to settle permanently in Quebec must undergo a two-step immigration process.

1. They must undergo a first come first served selection process. Selected applicants will receive a Quebec Certificat de Sélection (CSQ).
2. An approved CSQ holder must file an application with Canadian federal immigration authorities. The federal government’s role in evaluating a Quebec application for permanent residence is mainly limited to issues of health and criminality.

The following list is a partial reference to the Quebec Immigration High Demand Occupation List. The list of occupations provides applicants from outside Canada, who do not have intermediate French abilities, the best chances to qualify under Quebec.

Quebec is expected to adapt a federal style, expression of interest application management system, in 2017.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.