The severe labour shortage in Canada remains an ongoing issue due to declining fertility rates and an aging population. Declining worker participation has hit many industries, including healthcare and professional trades.
Immigration will be key to addressing the labour gap and filling essential roles. Below is a list of some of the top in demand jobs across Canada.
- Registered Nurse
The covid-19 pandemic has intensified the shortage of nurses across Canada. There is a high-demand for nurses–especially internationally educated ones. There are immigration options you can leverage if you have nursing experience and wish to move to Canada.
The average salary of a nurse in Canada is $80,122, or $41.09 an hour. New nurses in entry-level positions can start earning an average of $41,396 while experienced nurses can make an average of $95,704.
- Web Developers
A web developer is a programmer concerned with the back end aspect of creating a website or web application. Canada has a flourishing tech industry, with many opportunities for tech workers to immigrate to Canada. In fact, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are a popular way for tech workers to immigrate to Canada.
The average web developer salary in Canada is $60,449, or $31 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $50,700 per year, and most experienced workers make up to $86,925.
- Electrical Engineer
Electrical engineers continue to be in demand in Canada. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment which includes electric motors, radars and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation systems.
The average salary of an electrical engineer in Canada is $72,966 or $43.69 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $68,604 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $114,434 per year.
- Truck Driver
Due to pandemic layoffs and an aging population, truck drivers are also in demand. According to the 2021 Labour Market Snapshot of Trucking HR Canada, there were 18,000 vacant positions in the truck driving sector in Canada in the second quarter of 2021. Truck drivers are eligible for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The average truck driver salary in Canada is $47,049,or $24.13 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $39,598 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $63,375.
- Welder
Canada has a huge manufacturing industry, making welders an ever-demanding job. This is because of how important welders are to the manufacturing process. The average age of welders is 55, making the demand expected to increase in the future as this age starts to retire.
The average welder salary in Canada is $45,812 per year or $23.49 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $39,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $59,024 per year.
- Veterinarian
Unfortunately, veterinarians are in short supply in Canada as more veterinarians are retiring than graduating. You may be eligible to immigrate to Canada as a veterinarian through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. In order to live and work in Canada as a Veterinarian, you will need to have your qualifications that you earned outside of Canada accredited and ensure that it is recognized in Canada.
The average veterinarian salary in Canada is $90,000,or $46.15 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $70,940 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $110,909 per year.
- Licensed Practical Nurse
Similar to registered nurses, licensed practical nurses are in high-demand across the country. There are many immigration programs available for those in the healthcare industries wanting to move to Canada.
The average licensed practical nurse salary in Canada is $55,717, or $28.57 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $51,140, while most experienced workers make up to $64,350 per year.
- Industrial Electrician
Demand is high for industrial electricians in Canada. They install, maintain, test, troubleshoot, and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls. Newcomers with relevant education and employment experience can land a job in Canada as an industrial electrician, or another similar electrician profession.
The average industrial electrician salary in Canada is $66,300 per year or $34 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $59,222 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $78,000 per year.
- Pharmacist
To become a pharmacist, you must have a degree in pharmacy, pass the exam conducted by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) and register in your province or territory to become a certified pharmacist in Canada. Similar to other professions in the medical field, pharmacists have been in high demand in recent years.
The average pharmacist salary in Canada is $94,799,or $48.62 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $87,705 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $110,073 per year.
- Accountant
Accountants are needed everywhere, everyday in Canada! This professional is extremely important to the operations of any company. Employers are always in search of accountants, and the demand for this profession in Canada will remain strong within the years to come. Through immigration programs individuals can immigrate to Canada and work in accounting.
The average accountant salary in Canada is $58,988,or $30.25 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $48,750 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $79,615 per year.