While planning to immigrate to Canada, finding the right kind of employment opportunities occupies a large portion of a candidate’s efforts. This is also important from the host country point of view when selecting those who want to settle permanently in Canada. Proper, well-paying employment helps candidates settle down as quickly and easily as possible and to begin contributing economically,socially and culturally to the new country.
The Federal Skilled Trades Class category comes under the Express Entry program. It is designed for those immigrants who are skilled workers and wish to settle permanently in Canada on the basis of their skilled trade qualifications.
The Federal Skilled Trades Class
It’s important to know what “skilled trades” means under the Express Entry regulations.
Skilled trades refer to that group of jobs that call for experience and training in hands-on skills like machinists, welders, building contractors, plumbers, masons, technical jobs in agriculture, cooking and restaurant business, food and beverages industry, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors etc.
The eligible trades and occupations are classified by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system and allotted different codes for different categories. These groups are mainly Major Groups 72, 73, 83, 92, 632, 633, etc.
These areas of employment are critical for the economic growth and the health of the country. There are constant shortages of labor in these sectors. The reasons could be that a large majority of the highly skilled trades workers are above the age of 50 and most of them tend to stop working by 65. This is mainly because the jobs in this sector are more physically demanding and workers prefer to retire early to enjoy the fruits of their long years of labor.
Another reason for potential shortages is that school-level educational programs tend to prepare students for academic skills rather than vocational or technical education.
In the near future, labor market studies show that a large number of skilled trades workers would be approaching retirement age and it’s crucial to bridge this gap as quickly as possible. A new induction of younger, fresher and more tech savvy skilled workers provides immense benefits to the manufacturing and construction sectors in Canada.
Applying Under Express Entry
Several different categories employment are offered to immigrants who are invited to apply under the Express Entry program.
These include:
- Federal Skilled Worker Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Class
- Canadian Experience Class
- Provincial Nominee
The Express Entry program provides a fast-tracked route to gain permanent residency in Canada for those applicants who have the training, qualifications and preferably working experience in a skilled trade. You can apply if you fulfill the criteria of eligibility.
How the process works:
- Check your eligibility for the program
- Create an online Express Entry profile
- If your profile meets the criteria, it is entered into an Express Entry pool
- Based on the information you have provided you are given a score
- You are given a rank under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
- The pool contains profiles from the other categories besides Federal Skilled Trades Class
- Ranking is a comparative process where your CRS points are compared with those of others in that particular pool
- Every fortnight there is a draw from this pool
- The number of selections and cut-off CRS scores may differ in every draw
- If your profile is drawn during selection, you are given an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada
- You have 90 days to respond to the ITA
- During this time, you must ensure that all the necessary documentation is in order and all fees are paid
- Most applications are processed within six months
- An experienced, well-established, reputed immigration consultant can give you the right advice and assistance
Meeting The Criteria
There are certain minimum requirements that are necessary to apply under the Federal Skilled Trades Class category.
The applicant has to:
- be admissible to Canada
- plan to live anywhere except Quebec which has its own programs. For other provinces, you can explore the possibility of applying under specific provincial nominee programs
- meet the minimum language levels: Canadian Language Benchmark CLB Level 4 in reading, writing and CLB 5 in listening and speaking, though there are no minimum educational qualifications required. However, if you have higher educational qualifications, these can help boost your CRS ranking if you get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) done and submit the results
- show proof of having at least two years of full-time working experience in a skilled trade over the past five years that comes under Skill Level B
- alternatively provide proof of equivalent part time work
- demonstrate that the skills/experience covers the essential aspects of the specified occupation
- have a valid offer of full-time employment in that particular skilled trade for a period of at least one year or alternatively have a certification/qualification from a Canadian provincial/territorial authority
- declare that they have sufficient funds if they DON’T have a valid job offer at the time of entering the Express Entry pool and show proof of such funds at the application for permanent residency stage. The candidate must have a designated amount of funds that are available and transferable for each family member who accompanies them
Improving Your Chances
Keep all your documentation ready before you begin the process of application. You will have to submit proof of every item on the application, so make sure that you are completely honest and careful while you make declarations on the application.
Though it’s not required to have a minimum educational qualification, many applicants fall lower in ranking because others in the pool show ECA assessments and get higher ranks
You must have at least two years’ work full-time or equivalent part time experience to apply under the Federal Skilled Trade Class. If you fall short, continue working and complete this before you apply.
Ensure that your particular trade/skill is on the list of eligible ones according to the NOC.
Re-take your language tests if you don’t meet the minimum requirements or feel you could do better. Attend a recognized language course to improve your abilities. Additional points may be available for proficiency in both languages.
Do your best to get a valid job offer or to get a provincial nomination.
