On August 30, 2024, Saskatchewan unveiled two new Permanent Residency (PR) pathways under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) aimed at addressing critical labor shortages in the province’s health care and agriculture sectors. These initiatives, known as the Agriculture Talent Pathway and the Health Talent Pathway, are designed to attract skilled workers to fill essential roles in these key industries.
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Addressing Labour Shortages in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan’s Immigration and Career Training Minister, Jeremy Harrison, highlighted the importance of aligning immigration strategies with current labor demands. “With labor shortages reported across the country, creating new provincial immigration pathways and streamlining our credential recognition process will help employers in Saskatchewan acquire the workforce needed to grow their businesses,” Harrison said. The new pathways represent a proactive approach to supporting economic and sectoral growth by making it easier for skilled immigrants to settle and work in Saskatchewan.
New SINP Agriculture Talent Pathway Eligibility Criteria
The Agriculture Talent Pathway has been introduced to meet the growing labor demands in Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector. Agriculture is a crucial part of the province’s economy, with over $3.2 billion worth of crop products exported in 2023.
Key Eligibility Criteria for Agriculture Talent Pathway
- Language Proficiency: A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 4 is required. Some employers or regulatory bodies may require a higher score.
- Education: A minimum of secondary school education is necessary.
- Work Experience: At least one year of full-time work experience in the past three years in the intended occupation, or six months of full-time work experience with the employer providing a Job Approval Letter.
- Job Offer: An eligible permanent, full-time job offer in Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector and a valid SINP Job Approval Letter from the employer is required.
Full List of 10 Occupations Eligible For Agriculture Talent Pathway
- 75101 Material handlers*
- 84120 Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- 85100 Livestock labourers
- 85101 Harvesting labourers
- 85103 Nursery and greenhouse labourers
- 94140 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing*
- 94141 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers*
- 94143 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing*
- 94204 Mechanical assemblers and inspectors*
- 95106 Labourers in food and beverage processing*
For more details, visit Saskatchewan Agriculture Talent Pathway.
Health Talent PR Pathways Eligibility Criteria
The Health Talent Pathway supports Saskatchewan’s Health Human Resources (HHR) action plan by streamlining the recruitment process for healthcare professionals through SINP. This pathway consolidates healthcare recruitment under a single stream, making it easier for professionals to navigate the system.
Common Eligibility Requirements for Health Talent Pathway
- Licensing Eligibility: Candidates must be eligible for licensing in Saskatchewan if applicable.
- Education: Post-secondary education related to the job is required, including degrees or diplomas from recognized institutions.
- Intent to Reside: Candidates must demonstrate their intent to live and work in Saskatchewan.
Health Talent Pathway Requirements: Non-Express Entry Candidates
Candidates without an active Express Entry profile must have:
- Language Proficiency: A CLB score of at least 5 in English or French. Some employers may require a higher score.
- Work Experience:
- In Saskatchewan: Six months (780 hours) of full-time work experience with the employer providing the Job Approval Letter.
- Outside Saskatchewan: At least one year of work experience in the occupation within the last five years.
44 Eligible Occupations For Non-Express Entry Health Talent Pathway
- 30010 Managers in health care
- 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- 31101 Specialists in surgery
- 31102 General practitioners and family physicians
- 31103 Veterinarians
- 31110 Dentists
- 31111 Optometrists
- 31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- 31120 Pharmacists
- 31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
- 31200 Psychologists
- 31201 Chiropractors
- 31202 Physiotherapists
- 31203 Occupational therapists
- 31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
- 31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 31302 Nurse practitioners
- 31303 Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
- 32100 Opticians
- 32101 Licensed practical nurses
- 32102 Paramedical occupations
- 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 32110 Denturists
- 32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
- 32112 Dental technologists and technicians
- 32120 Medical laboratory technologists
- 32121 Medical radiation technologists
- 32122 Medical sonographers
- 32123 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists n.e.c
- 32124 Pharmacy technicians
- 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
- 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- 32201 Massage therapists
- 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing
- 33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- 33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 44101 Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations
For more details, visit Saskatchewan Health Talent Pathway.
Health Talent Pathway Requirements: Express Entry Candidates
Express Entry candidates must meet the following additional criteria:
- Express Entry Profile: A valid Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Code.
- Language Proficiency: A CLB score of 7 or higher in English or French.
- Work Experience: At least one year of highly skilled work experience related to their occupation within the past five years.
43 Eligible Occupations For Express Entry Health Talent Pathway
- 30010 Managers in health care
- 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- 31101 Specialists in surgery
- 31102 General practitioners and family physicians
- 31103 Veterinarians
- 31110 Dentists
- 31111 Optometrists
- 31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- 31120 Pharmacists
- 31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
- 31200 Psychologists
- 31201 Chiropractors
- 31202 Physiotherapists
- 31203 Occupational therapists
- 31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
- 31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 31302 Nurse practitioners
- 31303 Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
- 32100 Opticians
- 32101 Licensed practical nurses
- 32102 Paramedical occupations
- 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 32110 Denturists
- 32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
- 32112 Dental technologists and technicians
- 32120 Medical laboratory technologists
- 32121 Medical radiation technologists
- 32122 Medical sonographers
- 32123 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists n.e.c
- 32124 Pharmacy technicians
- 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
- 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- 32201 Massage therapists
- 32209 Other practitioners of natural healing
- 33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- 33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services
Saskatchewan’s Ongoing Efforts to Attract Skilled Talent
With the introduction of these new PNP pathways, Saskatchewan continues to enhance its appeal to skilled immigrants by simplifying the immigration process for essential sectors such as health care and agriculture. The province’s focus on streamlining immigration pathways and credential recognition will help attract skilled professionals to fill in-demand roles, benefiting both newcomers and employers.
Skilled professionals in agriculture and health care now have a clearer path to establishing their careers in Saskatchewan. These initiatives support the province’s economic growth and improve the quality of life for its residents.
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