Ontario conducts regular Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws targeting tech occupations through its Express Entry-linked Human Capital Priorities stream.
The province, which has the largest PNP by federal government allocation, also has three of the foremost tech hubs in North America, in Toronto, Ottawa and the Waterloo Region.
It means tech talent immigrating to Ontario should have plenty of employment options, especially given the current tight labour market.
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Candidates receiving a nomination from the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) get an additional 600 points added to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw.
The OINP has an initial allocation of 9,750 nominations in 2022, up from 8,600 for 2021. It regularly reaches its allocation and is given extra places, meaning it is likely to nominate more than 10,000 candidates this year.
Human Capital Priorities Stream Dominates OINP 2021 Nominations
Stream | Number of nominations |
Employer Job Offer: International Student stream | 1,240 |
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream | 540 |
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream | 1,705 |
PhD Graduate stream | 212 |
Masters Graduate stream | 1,202 |
Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades stream | 177 |
Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream | 3,513 |
Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream | 410 |
Entrepreneur stream | 1 |
Grand total | 9,000 |
Human Capital Priorities Tech Draws
Ontario targets six specific technology sector occupations with tech draws from the Express Entry pool as part of the HCP stream.
Candidates must have experience in one of the six occupations to qualify.
HCP Tech Draws: Target Occupations
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
Tech Jobs Top List Of 2021Â OINP NominationsÂ
National Occupational Classification (NOC) | Occupations | Number of nominations |
NOCÂ 2173 | Software engineers and designers | 792 |
NOCÂ 124 | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers | 482 |
NOCÂ 1111 | Financial auditors and accountants | 382 |
NOCÂ 2174 | Computer programmers and interactive media developers | 374 |
NOCÂ 6311 | Food service supervisors | 353 |
NOCÂ 7511 | Transport truckdrivers | 325 |
NOCÂ 2172 | Database analysts and data administrators | 319 |
NOCÂ 1122 | Professional occupations in business management consulting | 267 |
NOCÂ 601 | Corporate sales managers | 258 |
NOCÂ 213 | Computer and information systems managers | 252 |
NOCÂ 1121 | Human resources professionals | 186 |
NOCÂ 122 | Banking, credit and other investment managers | 183 |
NOCÂ 2175 | Web designers and developers | 167 |
NOCÂ 1112 | Financial and investment analysts | 164 |
NOCÂ 1241 | Administrative assistants | 148 |
NOCÂ 2147 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 133 |
NOCÂ 1215 | Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations | 122 |
NOCÂ 6322 | Cooks | 118 |
NOCÂ 114 | Other administrative services managers | 114 |
NOCÂ 4163 | Business development officers, marketing researchers, consultants | 103 |
All other occupations | 3,758 | |
Grand total | 9,000 |
Candidates must also meet the general requirements of the HCP stream.
This stream is designed for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Ontario, and who have proven skills and abilities to successfully establish themselves in the province.
Ontario HCP: General Requirements
- Ongoing profile under the Federal Express Entry system and qualify for the FSWP or the CEC.
- Hold a minimum of 1-year of full-time, or full-time equivalent work experience under NOC occupation level 0, A or B, in the past five years if applying under the FSWP or in the past three years if applying under CEC.
- Hold the equivalent of a Canadian bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Show language proficiency of minimum CLB/NCLC level 7 in English or in French.
- Intention to reside in the province of Ontario.
- Residing with legal status in Canada, if applicable.
- Proof of required settlement funds.
- Minimum Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System score as determined by the director under period draws.
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