Canada to boost immigration points for high-wage earners in bid to drive economic growth

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Photo by Getty ImagesCanada will provide extra immigration points in its Express Entry program to candidates with high-wage occupations, such as engineers and electricians, in an effort to drive economic growth, the federal government said Friday.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe boost, which starts in November, aims to attract and retain skilled workers and better align the immigration system with Canada’s economic and labour market needs, Ottawa said in a statement.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.“Canada is competing globally for people with the skills we need to build a prosperous economy and stronger public services,” immigration minister Lena Metlege Diab Metlege said.SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: FP West: Energy Insider brings you behind the oilpatch’s closed doors with exclusive insights from insiders every Wednesday morning.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of FP West: Energy Insider will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“These changes will help us identify, attract, and retain the skilled newcomers who are best positioned to succeed in Canada, while making the Express Entry system more targeted and responsive.”The Express Entry system is one of the more popular ways of immigrating to Canada. The system provides prospective immigrants with points for their education levels, work experience, English and French language proficiency, age and other factors.The higher applicants score, the higher the chance they have of becoming permanent residents, which eventually leads to citizenship. The system is designed to attract young, skilled people who are more likely to earn more money and contribute positively to the Canadian economy.For Express Entry, a high-wage occupation is one with a median wage of at least 1.3 times the median wage of the overall Canadian workforce, the statement said.Eligible high-wage occupations include jobs in health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education.The system also includes provisions to target specific groups of skills and occupations. In December, 2025, Canada announced a separate express entry category for doctors. It also has categories that prioritize candidates with skills and experience in key sectors, including health care, skilled trades, research, transportation and education, and people who can speak French.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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