The Atlantic Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is forecast to be an economic leader this year with a resurgence of its oil and mining sectors – and that’s expected to drive employment growth of 3.1 per cent.
“A rebound in both the oil sector and the broader economy is in the cards for this year, as most maintenance at major offshore facilities is complete and the long-awaited Terra Nova vessel is back online,” forecasts TD Economics.
“At 2.3 per cent real GDP growth in 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to lead the provinces before moderating in 2025.”
The province’s oil sector is a big part of its economy.
“The oil sector accounts for almost one-fifth of total economic output in Newfoundland and Labrador, the most of any province,” notes TD Economics.
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“We expect oil production to advance by a healthy six to eight per cent this year, contributing almost half to total GDP growth. It will take some time for Terra Nova to produce at full capacity, but the makeover is forecast to extend the vessel’s life by 10 years and produce an additional 70 million barrels – a solid source of oil production for years to come.”
With iron ore, nickel, and copper poised to find support with the central banks moving into less restrictive policies this year, the mining sector remains a medium-term bright spot for the province’s economy.
“The Newfoundland and Labrador government also recently signed an agreement with the federal government that, if passed, would allow N.L. to solely regulate its renewable energy developments,” noted TD Economics in its forecast.
“This would mark a significant economic opportunity for the jurisdiction and would support future investment for offshore wind development projects. In this vein, construction of Canada’s first wind-hydrogen project in Newfoundland and Labrador could be starting sometime in the second half of 2025, providing a tailwind to employment and overall economic activity.”
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals Newfoundland and Labrador welcomed 5,485 new permanent residents last year, up 56.9 per cent from the 3,495 the previous year.
Newfoundland and Labrador also welcomed 4,815 temporary foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and another 1,210 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) last year. The province also issued 4,145 study permits to international students last year.
With the growth in Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy, foreign nationals may want to consider immigration to that province which they can do through Canada’s two-tier immigration system.
It allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) of the 10 Canadian provinces.
Those foreign nationals eyeing economic immigration programs to come live and work in Canada would do well to look at these Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs In Newfoundland and Labrador.
1. Registered Nurses (NOC 31301)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing.
The shortage of registered nurses is being felt across Canada.
“For registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 155,400, while 143,700 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank, the federal government’s job-hunting and career-planning website.
In late May, there were 50 job listings for registered nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Indeed.ca job website. Job Bank gives five stars, its highest rating, to the job prospects for registered nurses in that province.
This occupation comes with a median annual wage of $80,418 in Newfoundland and Labrador based on a 37.5-hour work week, according to Job Bank.
2. Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 73300)
Truckers drive straight trucks or tractor-trailers to transport freight over urban, interurban, provincial and international routes. They usually work for transportation, manufacturing, distribution and moving companies, and trucking employment service agencies, but some are self-employed.
“Whether you have the credentials to operate large commercial vehicles or the detail-oriented nature required for local deliveries, chances are you can find an open position to match,” notes Randstad.
Truck drivers in this province earn a median annual wage of $46,800 based on a standard work week, according to Job Bank and there were 292 job listings for truckers in Newfoundland and Labrador in late May.
3. Retail Sales Managers (NOC 60020)
The shortage of retail sales managers is only projected to grow in Canada over the next few years.
“For retail and wholesale trade managers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 117,700, while 99,000 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
In late May, Indeed.ca had 563 job listings for retail sales managers in Newfoundland and Labrador. According to Job Bank, these jobs come with median annual earnings of $49,686 based on a standard work week.
4. Equipment Mechanics (NOC 72401)
The shortage of equipment mechanics across Canada is forecast to grow by an additional 2,200 positions over the next seven years.
“For heavy-duty equipment mechanics, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 25,000, while 22,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
These are the people who repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain heavy-duty mobile equipment used in construction, transportation, forestry, mining, oil and gas, material handling, landscaping, land clearing and farming.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, heavy equipment mechanics earn an annual median income of $68,445 based on Job Bank data for a 37.5-hour work week.
In late May, Indeed had 282 job listings for heavy equipment mechanics in Newfoundland and Labrador.
5. Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 73400)
Those workers who operate the heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures, in surface mining and quarrying activities, and in material handling work are in hot demand.
Indeed.ca listed 458 jobs for heavy equipment operators in Newfoundland and Labrador in late May and Job Bank shows these workers earn a median annual income of $49,530 based on a standard work week in that province.
“For heavy equipment operators(except crane), over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 31,200, while 30,300 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
Heavy equipment operators are typically employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies.
6. Software Developers (NOC 21232)
As the people who write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software, software developers are in hot demand.
“This is one of the top jobs in part because businesses of all types and sizes need developers to create app solutions, develop or maintain in-house software or help implement cloud or other technologies,” notes Randstad.
“One of the lessons learned during COVID-19 lockdowns in recent years was that technology could make or break a business. Companies that seamlessly transitioned into remote work environments often fared better. Add to that the growing need to rely on data and automations to remain competitive, and it’s no wonder so many businesses are on the hunt for skilled developers.”
In Newfoundland and Labrador, software developers earn a median annual wage of $74,100 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, Job Bank reveals. The Indeed job website had 101 job listings for software experts in late May.
7. Physicians – Family (NOC 31102) and Specialists (31101)
General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat diseases, physiological disorders and injuries. In Newfoundland and Labrador, they make a median annual salary of $202,089.
Indeed listed over 100 positions for family physicians and specialists in Newfoundland and Labrador in late May and the need for these medical practitioners is growing across the country.
“For general practitioners and family physicians, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 48,900, while 29,400 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
Specialists, a category that includes surgeons, diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. The median annual salary for a surgeon is $245,344 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
8. Accountants (NOC 11100)
Accountants plan, organize and administer the accounting systems that keep track of that money for businesses, individuals and governments.
“For financial auditors and accountants, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 88,000, while 79,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
In late May, Indeed had 31 job listings for accountants in Newfoundland and Labrador where the median annual income for these professionals was $70,867 based on Job Bank data for a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
9. Construction Trades Helper (NOC 75110)
There is a huge pent-up demand for workers in the construction trades in Newfoundland and Labrador as the economy there expands.
“For trades helpers and labourers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 19,600, while 17,900 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
These are the people who work at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines, usually for construction companies, trade and labour contractors, and surface mine and quarry operators.
In late May, Indeed.ca had 698 job listings for those wanting to work as helpers in the construction trades in Newfoundland and Labrador where Job Bank indicates they earn a median annual income of $39,00 based on a standard work week.
10. Cooks (NOC 63200) and Food and Beverage Servers (NOC 65200)
Restaurateurs in Newfoundland and Labrador are hurting badly for cooks and servers as the hospitality sector faces a labour shortage.
Indeed listed 177 jobs for cooks and another 181 jobs for servers in Newfoundland and Labrador in late May, ahead of the summer tourism season.
The median annual income for a cook or a server in Newfoundland and Labrador’s hospitality sector, based on a 37.5-hour work week, is $30,420 – but that doesn’t include tips.
