As Canada’s economic immigration programs continue to play a vital role in the country’s labor market growth, they account for nearly 100% of workforce increases in recent years. To address domestic labor shortages, Canadian employers are increasingly turning to the Express Entry system to hire skilled foreign workers. Here’s how employers can tap into this resource.
When Can Employers Hire Through the Express Entry System?
Canadian employers must meet certain criteria established by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to hire candidates from the Express Entry pool. Specifically, employers need to ensure the job meets the criteria of “skilled work” under Canada’s TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility) system, which classifies jobs into categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Additionally, employers must demonstrate that they were unable to fill the position domestically, including proof of advertising the job on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank and at least two other platforms.
How to Hire Through Express Entry
Employers looking to hire through the Express Entry system can use the Job Bank’s “Job Match” feature. The Job Bank is a federal platform offering a range of employment services, including job postings and tools for career planning. The Job Match feature pairs employer job postings with candidates whose profiles meet the job requirements.
Once matched, employers can proceed with the hiring process. In some cases, employers may need to secure a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a government document that assesses the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labor market. A positive or neutral LMIA result is required to make a valid job offer under the Express Entry system, although there are certain exceptions where an LMIA is not needed.
How Express Entry Candidates Can Be Considered for Jobs
Candidates in the Express Entry pool can also proactively seek job opportunities through the Job Match feature. To use the feature, they must have a valid Express Entry profile, which includes a profile number and job seeker validation code provided by IRCC. They then need to create a Job Match account and link it with their Express Entry profile. This will allow them to be matched with job postings listed in the Job Bank.
Express Entry candidates will only be matched with job listings that have been active for more than 30 days. Those facing difficulties connecting their accounts are encouraged to follow specific guidelines provided by the Job Bank.
By utilizing these tools and programs, both employers and job seekers can bridge the gap between Canada’s labor needs and skilled foreign talent.