With the negative economic impact of COVID-19, many of us lost our jobs or saw our hours reduced. Others had to start working from home in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
It is true that many jobs were negatively affected. However, other jobs saw an increase in-demand. A government study about the pandemic’s effect on the Prince Edward Island labour market highlights various in-demand jobs.
Some of these jobs are listed below with their corresponding National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
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1. Management jobs
The following are the jobs that are in demand:
- Home building and renovation managers (NOC 0712)
Various workers in this sector were faced with an increased demand for home renovation projects. This may have created labour shortages of home building and renovation managers in the province.
Construction activity in the province is expected to continue to grow, as the population grows due to continued immigration.
- Managers in agriculture (NOC 0821)
Many of these managers experienced a growing demand in order to support local businesses during the pandemic. Potato farmers, however, were expecting a significant drop in demand because of restaurant closures and decreased french-fry processing.
2. Business, finance and administration jobs
- Administrative officers (NOC 1221)
Administrative officers work across all industries. More workers are getting hired in the educational and health care services sectors to plan and implement health and safety protocols to slow the spread of the virus.
3. Natural and applied sciences and related jobs
Workers in these jobs were able to transition to working from home, and so have not experience wide-ranging layoffs because of the pandemic.
Information systems analysts and consultants faced an increased demand in supporting businesses to shift their business online, and supporting schools and universities providing online instruction.
- Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);
- User support technicians (NOC 2282).
4. Health care jobs
Employment prospects for these professionals has been good, because of the province’s growth and ageing population.
There was already a shortage of registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses as well as licensed practical nurses. The pandemic may have amplified this shortage because of increased demand.
Employers have also found it difficult to find qualified dental hygienists in P.E.I.
Here are some of the health care jobs with high amounts of job vacancies:
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012);
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 3222);
- Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233);
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413).
5. Jobs in education, law, and social community and government services
Demand for social and community service workers remained the same or increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social workers were able to shift to video conferencing because of physical distancing measures.
Home support workers were also in demand, as well as elementary and secondary school teachers. More workers were hired to spread out the work load to decrease the risk of infection.
- Social workers (NOC 4152);
- Social and community service workers (NOC 4212);
- Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations (NOC 4412);
- Elementary and secondary school teachers (NOC 4413).
6. Trades, transport and equipment operators and related jobs
There has been an ongoing shortage of experienced transport truck drivers in P.E.I. This remains true throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delivery and courier service drivers for essential retailers and take-out food service establishments were more in-demand than other delivery drivers, who may have been negatively affected.
Here are some jobs that are in demand:
- Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511);
- Delivery and courier service drivers (NOC 7514).
7. Trades, transport and equipment operators and related jobs
There is an ongoing shortage of farm workers and harvesting labourers. This job was initially affected because of the closure of the Canadian border, since there is dependence on international hiring. However, this was no longer an issue when Canada exempted temporary foreign workers from the travel restrictions.
Here are some jobs that are in demand:
- General farm workers (NOC 8431);
- Harvesting labourers (NOC 8611).
How you can immigrate to Prince Edward Island
Immigration candidates who have skilled work experience may apply for permanent residence through one of Canada’s federal economic class programs, including:
- the Foreign Skilled Worker Program (FSWP);
- the Foreign Skilled Trades Program (FSTP);
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
If you wish to apply for one of these programs, you will have to do so by first creating a profile on the Express Entry system – Canada’s online management system for permanent residency applications.
Of the jobs listed above, the following are not considered skilled work:
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413);
- Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations (NOC 4412);
- Elementary and secondary school teachers (NOC 4413);
- Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511);
- Delivery and courier service drivers (NOC 7514);
- General farm workers (NOC 8431);
- Harvesting labourers (NOC 8611).
Although Express Entry is the main way to immigrate to Canada, it is not your only choice.
Prince Edward Island also operates its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) with various immigration options.
For example, the Labour Impact Category has three streams that you may consider depending on your occupation.
Those who have a job offer in a skilled occupation and who have a valid work permit in Canada can apply through the Skilled Worker Stream. If you are a graduate with a Post-Graduation Work Permit, have worked for an employer for at least six months, and have a valid job offer from the same employer, you may be eligible to apply through the International Graduate Stream.
Truck drivers, labourers, housekeeping attendants, food and beverage servers and customer service representatives who have a job offer in the province, have worked for the employer for six months and hold a work permit may be eligible to apply through the Critical Worker Stream.
Another option you may consider is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) — a fast-track immigration program where employers can hire foreign nationals to fill local jobs. Employers must be in an Atlantic province to hire foreigners through this program. Canada’s Atlantic provinces are: Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick.
Through the AIP, employers do not need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a document that shows there were no Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position.
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates are on of 40 healthcare jobs that can apply for immigration through Canada’s temporary pathway to permanent residence for essential workers. There are 20,000 spots for health care workers who were working in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada will continue to accept applications until November 5, or until the intake cap is reached.
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