2020-02-11 – These are the top 10 Canada jobs most likely to receive Canada Express Entry Invitations to Apply in 2020.
The latest federal government figures reveal exactly the type of candidates who are seeing the most success through the Express Entry system for selecting high-skilled immigration candidates.
Major National Occupational Classification code 21 for professional occupations in natural and applied sciences dominates the figures, with 16,685 candidates admitted in the field in 2019.
Top 10 Canada Express Entry Jobs By Number of Permanent Resident Admissions
| Occupation and 2-Digit NOC Code | 2019 Number of Admissions | |
| 1 | 21 – Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences | 16,685 |
| 2 | 11 – Professional occupations in business and finance | 6,825 |
| 3 | 01-05 – Specialized middle management occupations | 5,320 |
| 4 | 12 – Administrative and financial supervisors and administrative occupations | 5,260 |
| 5 | 22 – Technical occupations related to natural and applied sciences | 3,870 |
| 6 | 40 – Professional occupations in education services | 3,565 |
| 7 | 63 – Service supervisors and specialized service occupations | 2,825 |
| 8 | 62 – Retail sales supervisors and specialized sales occupations | 2,415 |
| 9 | 41 – Professional occupations in law and social, community and government services | 2,325 |
| 10 | 06 – Middle management occupations in retail and wholesale trade and customer services | 2,185 |
| Total Express Entry Admissions | 109,595 |
The 109,595 total Express Entry admissions for 2019 is up 19 percent on the 2018 total of 92,230 and a mammoth 68 percent increase on the 2017 total of 65,425.
These figures chart the increase in Canada immigration levels over that time, as well as the increased prominence of the Express Entry system into its current position as the major route for high skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.
Technology professionals and engineers are the two foremost in-demand fields in Canada, and they also fall under the same branch of the National Occupational Classification.
Therefore, NOC 21 will continue to dominate in terms of the skilled workers admitted through Express Entry.Important occupations under the NOC include software developers, computer programmers, web designers, computer engineers, chemical engineers.
Also falling under NOC are architects and surveyors, plus mathematicians and statisticians.
There remains significant demand for qualified engineers in Canada. Canada salaries for engineers can range from $60,000 to $120,000 depending on the position, experience of the candidate and location of the employer.
Another in-demand position under NOC 21 is software developer. Average salaries range from $70,000 to $130,000.
Occupations Under NOC 21
| Code | Occupation |
| 211 | Physical science professionals |
| 212 | Life science professionals |
| 213 | Civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers |
| 214 | Other engineers |
| 215 | Architects, urban planners and land surveyors |
| 216 | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 217 | Computer and information systems professionals |
Qualified accountants are central figures in successful businesses. There is no surprise that professionals in this field are high in-demand for Express Entry immigration. Occupations under NOC 11 include both auditors and accountants, and also human resource and business service professionals. Accountant salaries in Canada range from $50,000 to over $100,000, depending on skills, experience and the location of employers.
For positions in human resources, salaries can range from $60,000 to $150,000 depending on the seniority of the position.
Occupations Under NOC 11
| Code | Occupation |
| 111 | Auditors, accountants and investment professionals |
| 112 | Human resources and business service professionals |
A range of middle management roles are put together under NOC 01-05, including financial managers, administrators, engineering managers and information systems managers.
While NOC 21 features those with technical ability in IT and engineering, managers in those fields fall under NOC 01-05.
Therefore, while the numbers admitted through Express Entry are not as large, the occupations included in the category are of significant importance.
For financial managers, salaries in the range of $75,000 to $150,000.
For engineering managers, salaries range between $75,000 for entry-level positions and $140,000 for the most senior roles.
Occupations Under NOC 01-05
| Code | Occupation |
| 011 | Administrative services managers |
| 012 | Managers in financial and business services |
| 013 | Managers in communication (except broadcasting) |
| 021 | Managers in engineering, architecture, science and information systems |
| 031 | Managers in health care |
| 041 | Managers in public administration |
| 042 | Managers in education and social and community services |
| 043 | Managers in public protection services |
| 051 | Managers in art, culture, recreation and sport |
Finance office supervisors, human resources and recruitment officers and legal administrative assistants are among the occupations covered under NOC 12.
In 2019, 5,260 administrators came to Canada through the Express Entry system, making them the fourth largest occupation group.
For recruiters and recruitment officers, salaries are in the range of $40,000 to $75,000, often loaded with significant benefits and commission.
Occupations Under NOC 12
| Code | Occupation |
| 121 | Administrative services supervisors |
| 122 | Administrative and regulatory occupations |
| 124 | Office administrative assistants – general, legal and medical |
| 125 | Court reporters, transcriptionists, records management technicians and statistical officers |
NOC 22 has several occupations related to engineering and information technology, explaining the reason why it saw 3,870 new immigrants arrive via Express Entry in 2019.
Important positions falling under NOC 22 include computer network technicians, user support technicians, information systems testing technicians, plus technologists and technicians in engineering fields.
For computer network technicians, salaries can rage between $60,000 for entry-level positions, up to $120,000 for the most senior roles.
Occupations Under NOC 22
| Code | Occupation |
| 221 | Technical occupations in physical sciences |
| 222 | Technical occupations in life sciences |
| 223 | Technical occupations in civil, mechanical and industrial engineering |
| 224 | Technical occupations in electronics and electrical engineering |
| 225 | Technical occupations in architecture, drafting, surveying, geomatics and meteorology |
| 226 | Other technical inspectors and regulatory officers |
| 227 | Transportation officers and controllers |
| 228 | Technical occupations in computer and information systems |
College and university professors who are experts in their fields are also popular Express Entry immigrants to Canada.
Through NOC 40, which also includes high school and elementary school teachers, 3,565 immigrants arrived in Canada through Express Entry in 2019.
Occupations Under NOC 40
| Code | Occupation |
| 401 | University professors and post-secondary assistants |
| 402 | College and other vocational instructors |
| 403 | Secondary and elementary school teachers and educational counsellors |
Important positions falling under NOC 63 for service supervisors and specialized service occupations include chefs and cooks, as well as butchers and bakers.
Butchers and fishmongers in the wholesale industry are particularly sought-after for Canada immigration.
There were 2,825 admissions through Express Entry under NOC 63 in 2019, with the category also including customer services supervisors, tailors and shoemakers.
Occupations Under NOC 63
| Code | Occupation |
| 631 | Service supervisors |
| 632 | Chefs and cooks |
| 633 | Butchers and bakers |
| 634 | Specialized occupations in personal and customer services |
NOC 62 covers includes retails sales supervisors, always one of the important in-demand occupations for Canada immigration.
The NOC saw 2,415 admissions via Express Entry in 2019.
Occupations including wholesale buyers, insurance brokers and real estate agents are also featured under NOC 62.
Occupations Under NOC 62
| Code | Occupation |
| 621 | Retail sales supervisors |
| 622 | Technical sales specialists in wholesale trade and retail and wholesale buyers |
| 623 | Insurance, real estate and financial sales occupations |
NOC 41 for professional occupations in law and social, community and government services is the only occupation to make the 2019 top 10 that did not make the list in 2018.
Jobs falling under the group include judges, lawyers, Quebec notaries, psychologists, social workers and counsellors.
Other occupations include policy researchers, consultants and program officers, plus other professional occupations in the social sciences.
There were 2,325 admissions in the category in 2019.
| Code | Occupation |
| 411 | Judges, lawyers and Quebec notaries |
| 415 | Social and community service professionals |
| 416 | Policy and program researchers, consultants and officers |
Managers in several of the occupations already featured in the top 10 are included under NOC 06.
Retail and wholesale trade managers, as well as food service and accommodation managers both feature under a NOC through which 2,185 arrived in 2019.
The NOC also features corporate sales managers and customer services managers.
Occupations Under NOC 06
| Code | Occupation |
| 060 | Corporate sales managers |
| 062 | Retail and wholesale trade managers |
| 063 | Managers in food service and accommodation |
| 065 | Managers in customer and personal services |
Comparison: Top 2018 Express Entry Admissions by Intended Occupation
| NOC Code | Job Description | 2018 Express Entry Admissions | |
| 1 | 21 | Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences | 14,320 |
| 2 | 11 | Professional occupations in business and finance | 5,640 |
| 3 | 01-05 | Specialized middle management occupations | 4,650 |
| 4 | 12 | Administrative and financial supervisors and administrative occupations | 4,265 |
| 5 | 22 | Technical occupations related to natural and applied sciences | 3,645 |
| 6 | 40 | Professional occupations in education services | 2,695 |
| 7 | 63 | Service supervisors and specialized service occupations | 2,180 |
| 8 | 62 | Retail sales supervisors and specialized sales occupations | 2,115 |
| 9 | 06 | Middle management occupations in retail and wholesale trade and customer services | 1,820 |
| 10 | 31 | Professional occupations in health (except nursing) | 1,775 |
| Total Admissions Through Express Entry in 2018 | 92,235 |
Comparison: Top 2017 Express Entry Admissions by Intended Occupation
| Position | NOC Code | Job Description | 2017 Express Entry Admissions |
| 1 | 21 | Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences | 9,620 |
| 2 | 22 | Technical occupations related to natural and applied sciences | 3,450 |
| 3 | 12 | Administrative and financial supervisors and administrative occupations | 3,355 |
| 4 | 11 | Professional occupations in business and finance | 3,340 |
| 5 | 01-05 | Specialized middle management occupations | 2,500 |
| 6 | 63 | Service supervisors and specialized service occupations | 2,495 |
| 7 | 62 | Retail sales supervisors and specialized sales occupations | 1,875 |
| 8 | 40 | Professional occupations in education services | 1,770 |
| 9 | 06 | Middle management occupations in retail and wholesale trade and customer services | 1,595 |
| 10 | 72 | Industrial, electrical and construction trades | 1,275 |
| Total Admissions Through Express Entry in 2017 | 65,415 | ||
