Canada may be reducing some immigration numbers, but for skilled trades and construction workers, the door is far from closed. In fact, recent government plans suggest that tradespeople are more important than ever to Canada’s future.
In 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government announced major investments in infrastructure and housing. This includes new roads, pipelines, ports, and a large push to build more homes across the country. At the same time, Canada is facing a serious shortage of skilled trades workers and a slowing population growth.
This creates a simple but important question:
Who will build Canada’s homes and infrastructure if there aren’t enough workers?
The answer is clear: foreign skilled trades workers.
For tradespeople abroad who want to settle in Canada, this is a strong opportunity. Below is a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of why trades workers are well-positioned, and how they can work and settle in Canada.
Canada urgently needs skilled trades workers
Canada’s construction and infrastructure plans cannot move forward without people who can actually do the work. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, mechanics, and other trades professionals are already in short supply.
At the same time:
- Canada’s population growth has slowed
- Many Canadian trades workers are retiring
- Housing shortages are getting worse in major cities
Because of this, trades workers are seen as essential, even while other immigration programs are being reduced.
This makes trades one of the safest and most stable career paths for immigration to Canada right now.
How foreign trades workers can legally work in Canada
Foreign trades workers usually start with a work permit, which allows them to live and work in Canada temporarily. This can later lead to permanent residence (PR).
The most common option is through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Under this program, a Canadian employer must offer you a job and receive approval from the government. This approval is called an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), which confirms that no Canadian worker is available for the job.
To qualify, you generally need:
- The skills and experience for the job
- A valid job offer from a Canadian employer
- To meet basic health, security, and background checks
As of now, an employer can usually get an LMIA if:
- The job is in a region where unemployment is below 6%, or
- The wage offered is at least 20% higher than the regional average
This makes it easier for trades jobs, which are often in high-demand regions.
Permanent residence options for trades workers
While work permits are temporary, many trades workers aim for permanent residence, which allows them to live in Canada long-term with their families.
One of the most important pathways is Express Entry.
Express Entry and trade occupation draws
Canada uses Express Entry to select skilled workers for permanent residence. Within Express Entry, the government runs category-based draws, and trades is one of the priority categories.
If you have experience in an eligible trade, you may be invited faster, even with a lower score.
Below is the list of eligible trade occupations. The table is kept exactly as required.
Occupation | 2021 NOC code
Bricklayers | 72320
Cabinetmakers | 72311
Carpenters | 72310
Concrete finishers | 73100
Construction estimators | 22303
Construction managers | 70010
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021
Cooks | 63200
Electrical mechanics | 72422
Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200
Floor covering installers | 73113
Gas fitters | 72302
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401
Home building and renovation managers | 70011
Industrial electricians | 72201
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100
Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999
Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112
Plumbers | 72300
Roofers and shinglers | 73110
Sheet metal workers | 72102
Water well drillers | 72501
Welders and related machine operators | 72106
Occupations added to the trades category in 2025 are especially important, as they show Canada’s current labour priorities.
To qualify under the trades category, you usually need:
- At least six months of full-time work experience in one eligible trade within the last three years
- Basic education and language ability
- To meet general health and background requirements
Some people qualify through:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) if they have worked in Canada
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) if they apply from outside Canada
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) if they have a job offer or trade certification
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): a faster route for many trades workers
Canada’s provinces also run their own immigration programs called Provincial Nominee Programs. These programs are designed to fill local labour shortages and often strongly favor trades workers.
Some examples include:
- Alberta prioritizing construction and trades through its Express Entry-linked streams
- Nova Scotia’s Critical Construction Worker Pilot
- Nova Scotia’s new Expression of Interest system, which clearly prioritizes construction and trades
PNPs are especially useful if you:
- Have a job offer from a specific province
- Already worked or studied there
- Are willing to settle outside major cities
For many trades workers, PNPs are one of the most direct and reliable paths to permanent residence.
Why trades workers should not be discouraged by immigration cuts
Even though Canada has reduced some immigration numbers, these cuts mostly affect:
- Low-demand occupations
- Programs not linked to labour shortages
Trades workers are different. They are:
- Essential to housing and infrastructure
- In short supply across the country
- Directly linked to Canada’s economic plans
This means skilled trades remain a top priority, not a risk category.
Is Canada still inviting trades workers in 2025 and beyond?
Yes. Trades workers are actively prioritized due to housing shortages and infrastructure projects.
Do I need Canadian experience to immigrate as a trades worker?
Not always. Many programs accept foreign work experience, especially under Express Entry and PNPs.
Is a job offer mandatory?
A job offer helps a lot, especially for work permits and some PNPs, but it is not always required for Express Entry.
Can I bring my family if I work in Canada as a trades worker?
Yes. Most work permits allow spouses to work and children to study. Permanent residence allows full family settlement.
Which trades are most in demand right now?
Electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, mechanics, HVAC technicians, and construction managers are among the most in demand.
