The Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia is poised to see stronger economic growth – and so need more immigrants to fill jobs – than originally forecast this year, reports TD Economics.
“Hiring is off to a solid start in 2024, underpinned by firm population growth and a still-elevated level of vacant positions,” notes TD Economics.
“The recently released capital spending intentions survey (also) points to a 16 per cent gain in investment this year, supported by an expected surge in machinery and equipment expenditures in the public sector.”
With economic growth south of the border in the United States now forecast to be stronger this year than previously thought the Nova Scotian budget indicating more government spending, the economic think-tank is now forecasting the province will show real GDP growth of 1.5 per cent this year.
Employment is forecast to close the year up 3.7 per cent.
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The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals Nova Scotia welcomed 11,800 new permanent residents last year.
Nova Scotia also welcomed 15,555 temporary foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and another 4,155 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The province also issued 16,035 study permits to international students last year.
With the anticipated growth in provincial economy, foreign nationals may want to consider immigration to that province which they can do through Canada’s two-tier immigration system.
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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.
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) targets prospective immigrants who have the skills and experience to boost the province’s economy and tackle demographic challenges.
NSNP Offers Nine Streams For Immigration To The Province
Candidates who meet the criteria of one of nine different streams can be nominated for Nova Scotia immigration, with a target processing time of three months.
The nine streams are:
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities For Physicians: Express Entry
- Skilled Worker
- Physician
- Occupations In Demand
- International Graduates In Demand
- Entrepreneur
- International Graduate Entrepreneur
Nova Scotia also welcomes immigrants through the joint federal-provincial Atlantic Immigration Program.
Furthermore, the province operates ‘Study and Stay’, a program specifically aimed at helping international students from China, India and the Philippines stay and build careers in the region after they graduate.
High-skilled immigrants with experience in Nova Scotia qualify under the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream. As a core requirement, candidates require one year of experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 position.
The eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Experience Express Entry are:
- At least one year of work experience in Nova Scotia.
- Be 21 to 55 years old.
- Canadian high school graduate or equivalent.
- Language proficiency in English or French: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for skilled work in NOC TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2 and 3 jobs.
- Register a profile in the federal government Canada Express Entry pool.
The Labour Market Priorities stream is designed to allow the province to single out specific occupations for immigration and candidates for this stream must:
- Receive a Letter of Interest from the NSNP within the Express Entry system.
- Meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream for which they have qualified.
- Demonstrate sufficient funds to successfully establish themselves and their families in Nova Scotia and pay for their immigration costs and travel expenses.
- Have legal status in their current country of residence.
- Meet eligibility criteria in place at the time they are issued a Letter of Interest.
The Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities For Physicians stream allows the province to select candidates who are qualified doctors from the federal Express Entry pool.
The stream specifically targets two National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:
- NOC 31102: Family Physicians
- NOC 31100 and 31101: Specialist Physicians
The requirements are:
- Have an approved job offer from Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre as either a Family Physician (NOC 31102) or a Specialist Physician (NOC 31100, 31101).
- Commit to live and work in Nova Scotia for a minimum period of two years.
- Receive a Letter of Interest from the NSNP through Express Entry.
- Submit an application within 30 calendar days of the issue date of the Letter of Interest.
- Meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry-linked program for which they have qualified.
- Demonstrate sufficient funds to establish themselves and their families in Nova Scotia.
- Have legal status in their current country of residence.
The employer-driven Skilled Worker stream is aimed at foreign workers and international graduates.
Employers who have been unable to fill positions with Canadian citizens or permanent residents can access the stream after receiving a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
The requirements for candidates are:
- Full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer.
- At least one year of work experience related to the job (semi-skilled and low-skilled workers must have six months of experience with the job-offering employer).
- Be aged between 21 and 55.
- Minimum high school diploma.
- Appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation, if required.
- Language ability in English or French equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 for skilled workers, CLB Level 4 for semi-skilled and low-skilled workers.
- Financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia’s Occupations in Demand Pilot targets intermediate-skilled jobs in high demand in the province.
Occupations in Demand Pilot Lets Employers Hire Foreign Nationals
The target occupations are subject to change depending on labour market demand. It specifically targets jobs under National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 3, 4 or 5.
The requirements for this stream are:
- Full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in:
- NOC 33102 (Nurse Aides)
- NOC 65200 (Food and beverage servers)
- NOC 65201 (Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations)
- NOC 65310 (Light duty cleaners)
- NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers)
- NOC 73400 (Heavy equipment operators)
- NOC 75110 (Construction trades helpers and labourers)
- One year of work experience related to the job.
- Be aged 21 to 55.
- High school diploma.
- Appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation for the job.
- Prove language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 even if the applicant’s first language is English or French.
- Show financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
The Nova Scotia Physician Stream assists the province’s public health system to hire general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians. It is designed to help recruit and retain doctors for positions the province has been unable to fill with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The requirements are:
- Legal Status in Country of Residence
- If the applicant is living in Canada, he or she must provide proof of legal status as a temporary worker or visitor.
- If the applicant applies from outside Canada, she or she must provide proof of legal status in their country of residence.
- If the applicant has lost his or her legal status, he or she will not be eligible to apply until that status has been restored.
- Job Offer
- Written approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre as a:
- NOC 31102: Family Physicians
- NOC 31100 and 31101: Specialist Physicians
- The approved opportunity must be on official NSHA or IWK letterhead and must:
- Be signed and dated by a person authorized to hire physicians at the NSHA or IWK
- Be signed and dated by the applicant who is accepting the opportunity
- Indicate eligibility for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NS
- Indicate that the applicant is eligible to apply for privileges and credentials with NSHA and the IWK
- Written approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre as a:
- Education and Training
- A copy of an Education Credential Assessment or proof of education and medical training required for licensure in Nova Scotia.
- Language Ability
- The ability to perform the job in one of Canada’s official languages as evidenced by an employment offer from the NSHA or the IWK.
Nova Scotia’s International Graduates in Demand stream targets international graduates with a permanent job offer in one of two National Occupational Classification codes:
- NOC 33102: nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- NOC 42202: early childhood educators and assistants
The requirements for this stream are:
- Full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in NOC 33102 or 42202 that corresponds with the applicant’ recent field of study.
- Be aged 21 to 55.
- High school diploma.
- Complete a course of study within three years of the application of at least 30 weeks in length with at least 50 per cent in Nova Scotia.
- Candidates under NOC 33102: Program must grant a certificate, diploma, or degree.
- Candidates under NOC 42202: Program must grant a diploma or degree.
- Certifications issued by NS regulatory bodies required for the job.
- Language ability equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 in English or French.
- Financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.
The Nova Scotia Entrepreneur stream targets candidates with business ownership or senior management experience. They must live in Nova Scotia, either start a new business or buy an existing business, and actively participate in the day-to-day management of that business.
Under the Entrepreneur stream, candidates are first issued a temporary work permit before applying for permanent residence after operating the business for a year. The stream uses an Expression of Interest format, where candidates in a pool are invited to apply.
The requirements for candidates under this stream are:
- Be aged 21 or older.
- Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.
- Minimum net worth of $600,000.
- Minimum investment of $150,000 to establish or purchase a business in Nova Scotia.
- Minimum three years of experience actively managing and owning a business (33 per cent ownership minimum) or more than five years of experience in a senior business management role.
- Score minimum of five on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
The International Graduate Entrepreneur stream is similar to the Entrepreneur stream, only aimed at recent graduates from a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College. They must have started or purchased a Nova Scotia business and operated it for a year on a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Candidates are nominated for permanent residence if they intend to settle in the province. The stream works on an Expression of Interest format similar to the Entrepreneur stream.
The requirements for this stream are:
- Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.
- Minimum one year of continuous experience actively managing and owning the current Nova Scotia business (100 per cent ownership).
- Have completed a degree or diploma including minimum two academic years of full-time, in-person study at a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College.
- Valid post-graduation work permit.
- Minimum score of seven on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
