As of November 16, 2023, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (B.C. PNP) has officially shifted its focus to prioritize 25 new construction occupations, reflecting a strategic move in its immigration program.
The encompassing list of prioritized occupations includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, concrete finishers, painters, and various other trades vital to the construction sector.
In a landmark move, the province conducted its inaugural targeted round of invitations for permanent residency specifically tailored to these 25 new construction occupations on November 16, extending a modest 12 invitations. Notably, these invitations were distributed across all categories of provincial Skills Immigration and their corresponding Express Entry variants.
This emphasis on construction occupations aligns with the province’s overarching Homes for People action plan, designed to address the pressing need for residential housing and infrastructure development in B.C. over the next five years.
To effectively tackle this challenge, targeted invitations are being extended to workers in specific occupations who also possess a valid B.C. trades qualification. This criterion ensures that nominated construction workers from B.C. are equipped to make immediate contributions to the local employment market.
A valid B.C. trades qualification encompasses a SkilledTradesBC trades certificate or an apprenticeship recognized by SkilledTradesBC.
This shift in focus expands on B.C.’s previous targeted rounds of invitations, which primarily included early childhood educators, tech, healthcare occupations, veterinarians, animal health technologists, and veterinary technicians.