Ontario Issues First Invitations Through Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

Colin Singer
September 17, 2021

Ontario immigration has issued its first invitations to apply to candidates for its Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream.

The July 15 draw feature invitations for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates, and targeting 13 National Occupational Classification codes in health and agricultural occupations, plus manufacturing occupations outside the Greater Toronto Area.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is yet to release how many ITAs were issued, nor the minimum score.

The Expression of Interest system was opened for the In-Demand Skills stream on June 28, 2021.

Occupations Targeted In Ontario Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream Draw

Health and Agricultural Occupations

NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
NOC 8431 – general farm workers
NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
NOC 8611 – harvesting labourers
NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

Manufacturing (outside the GTA only)

NOC 9411 – machine operators, mineral and metal processing
NOC 9416 – metalworking and forging machine operators
NOC 9417 – machining tool operators
NOC 9418 – other metal products machine operators
NOC 9421 – chemical plant machine operators
NOC 9422 – plastics processing machine operators
NOC 9437 – woodworking machine operators
NOC 9446 – industrial sewing machine operators
NOC 9461 – process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
NOC 9523 – electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
NOC 9526 – mechanical assemblers and inspectors
NOC 9536 – industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
NOC 9537 – other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

This stream targets candidates with specific skilled in-demand in Ontario. To qualify, applicants must have:

A permanent and full-time job offer under certain occupations in the agriculture or construction sector and meets the median wage in Ontario for the occupation (see table below), and in a position that is necessary to the business.
- For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid.
9 months of cumulative work experience in the last three years in one of the eligible occupations. Experience must be paid and full-time or the equivalent amount in part-time work in Ontario.
- Seasonal work does not count.
Equivalent of Canadian high school education or higher.
Valid certificate or license at the time of application for any claimed work experience that requires it.
Minimum CLB/NCLC 4 in English or French in all language competencies.
Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
Intention to settle in Ontario.

Regional Immigration Pilot

Ontario’s Regional Immigration Pilot is designed to use the OINP to bring skilled labour not available locally to smaller Ontario communities.

Participating Communities

Chatham-Kent.
Cornwall.
Quinte West/Belleville.

Candidate Requirements

Full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
Meet the criteria for one of the Employer Job Offer category streams (see below).

Number of Nominations

Approximately 150 Employer Job Offer nominations have been set aside for the pilot.

Under the Employer Job Offer streams, the business must also meet several requirements:

An active business for the past three years;
Business premises in Ontario;
In compliance with all the employment, health and safety legislation;
If located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): minimum of $1,000,000 in gross annual revenue and five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
If located outside GTA: minimum of $500,000 in gross annual revenue and three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
For the Foreign Worker Stream only: Demonstrate recruitment efforts if the applicant is living outside Canada or is working in Canada but outside Ontario
- If the applicant is currently working in Ontario, this requirement is waived