The Canadian federal government has introduced a new approach to selecting permanent residents (PR), giving priority to foreign nationals with work experience in high-demand fields.

There are numerous sought-after healthcare positions, some of which can be attained in under two years, but what about individuals aspiring for PR who are not interested in healthcare?

Here are six occupations that are being prioritized for permanent residence, many of which necessitate minimal or no postsecondary education:

Occupation	Typical Required Postsecondary Education	Median Annual Pay (CAD)	Top Annual Pay (CAD)
Construction estimators	2 – 3 years college	79k	128k
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics	None – 1 year college	77k	108k
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	1 – 2 years college	74k	115k
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics	None – 2 years college	78k	116k
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics	None – 1 year college	77k	114k
Insurance agents and brokers	3 – 6 months	62k	107k

*Annual earnings are based on 40 hours per week at the job bank’s median and top hourly wages for each occupation, rounded to the nearest thousand.

**Licensing requirements vary by provincial jurisdiction.

***Licensing is mandatory in all provincial jurisdictions.

Eligible Work Experience

Foreign nationals with work experience in these fields are given priority for permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry system.

Eligibility is determined by the duties performed rather than job titles, as classified by the National Occupation System (NOC), the Canadian government’s occupational categorization framework.