Easiest Ways to Move to Canada as a Low-Skilled Worker in 2024
If you have been considering immigrating to Canada as unskilled or low-skilled worker, then this article is your ultimate guide on the easiest ways to move to Canada as a low-skilled worker in 2024. Every economy depends largely on unskilled workers such as farm workers, truck drivers, waiters and janitors who are all considered to be the foundation on which large industries rely.
Canada has a goal of inviting over 500, 000 immigrants as permanent residents per year by 2025, so this is the perfect time for foreign nationals to start their journey to Canada. With over 100 visa and immigration programs, individuals are sure to find the pathway that works for them.
What Job Qualifies as Low-Skilled?
Low-skilled occupations are usually in the fields of trade, primary and manufacturing industries, sales and services and certain assistant roles. It is classified according to the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) categories:
Skill Type C, which includes occupations that usually require a secondary school and/or occupation-specific training; and
Skill Type D, which includes occupations for which on-the-job training is provided.
Top Low-Skilled Jobs in Canada
| TOP 10 LOW-SKILLED JOBS IN CANADA | ||
|---|---|---|
| NOC Code | Occupation | Avg. Yearly Salary |
| 7511 | Truck Driver | $70,258 |
| 6525 | Hotel Front Desk Clerks | $45,103 |
| 9462 | Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters | $41,884 |
| 6513 | Food and Beverage Servers | $32,356 |
| 8431 | General Farm Workers | $36,939 |
| 6312 | Executive Housekeepers | $48,583 |
| 8252 | Livestock Workers | $33,150 |
| 7237 | Welders | $52,112 |
| 0725 | Pipefitter | $80,733 |
| 7242 | Industrial Electrician | $79,322 |
Best Programs to Immigrate to Canada as a Low-Skilled Worker
There are five major Canadian immigration programs a foreign skilled worker can immigrate to Canada through. They are the following:
1. Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) offers immigrants who have a Canadian job offer the chance to move to Canada permanently and settle in one of the 13 provinces or territories. Each PNP has different programs that are aimed at meeting the labour market needs within the province or territory.
Applicants have the option of applying directly to a province they are interested in or they can apply through the Express Entry system. Those wanting to get to Canada sooner than later should know that applying through Express Entry is significantly quicker.
Top tip
To increase their success, applicants should apply to provinces where their skills are in demand.
5 most popular PNPs for unskilled foreign nationals:
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
Find details about each of these Provincial Normination Programs.
2. Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot allows foreign nationals to immigrate as permanent residents to one of the four Atlantic provinces, namely Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. This pilot is great for immigrating to Canada as a low-skilled worker in 2024 as applicants do not require Canadian work experience to be eligible. Applicants will only require one year of foreign work experience and a job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the participating provinces.
Applicants can apply for the following program under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot:
Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
To apply for this program, you must have at least one year’s experience working in a position that requires a high school education or job-specific training;
You must have a high school diploma equal to a Canadian credential, for which you will need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA report);
You will need to take an approved language test to prove you are proficient enough in English or French to live and work in Canada; and
You need to have proof of funds that meet the minimum required amount to support yourself as well as any dependents regardless of whether they are joining you in Canada or not.
3. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) helps smaller communities in Canada by allowing them the opportunity to employ foreign skilled workers. Immigrants who are looking to live in Canada can apply for the positions and if successful, the community can recommend the applicants to the government for permanent residence.
11 communities are participating in the RNIP. They are located in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. One of the main requirements for this program is to have an offer for a full-time job from a Canadian employer.
Several jobs are in high demand in the participating communities, they include:
Dental Industry
Financial services
Practical nurses
Food processing
Agriculture and Manufacturing
4. Agri-Food Immigration Pilot
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot creates a pathway for skilled farm and livestock workers to move to Canada and apply for permanent residence. Applicants will need to have a valid job offer and show they are experienced workers in one of the specified occupations within the meat production and agricultural sector, to apply for this program.
Besides requiring one year of experience, applicants will also need the following:
Have a valid full-time, non-seasonal permanent job offer in Canada for which the salary must meet or exceed the prevailing wage;
A minimum CLB/NCLC score of 4 in either English or French;
Have a Canadian high school diploma or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of a foreign equivalent or higher; and
Have enough money to support themselves and their family members, even if they won’t be moving to Canada with the applicant.
5. Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign national workers when there are not any Canadian or permanent residents available to fill the position.
Canadian employers can hire foreign semi-skilled workers through the following streams under the TFWP:
Low Wage Worker Stream
Agriculture Worker Stream
Home Care Provider Stream
Benefits of Immigrating to Canada
Foreign skilled workers who immigrate to Canada as permanent residents will have the privilege of enjoying many benefits such as access to outstanding universal healthcare, a healthy work-life balance, employee insurance and paid leave days.
Choose between immigrating to Canada as a low-skilled worker in 2023 and enjoy the mentioned benefits and so much more!
