Canada’s tech sector continues to face labor shortages as the industry continues to grow despite the pandemic. 

In a recent meeting between the federal government and the Council of Canadian Innovators, the current labor shortages in the tech sector were discussed. One of the proposed solutions was to create a specifically-designed pilot program to allow tech workers to enter the country without a job offer. As most work and immigration pathways require a job offer to qualify, this would eliminate a lot of the red tape that delays the arrival of tech workers in the country.

If you are a Filipino tech worker seeking a career and future in Canada, here are some of the ways you can make this happen:

Express Entry

Express Entry is an immigration system that manages Canada’s federal immigration programs and applicants.

Tech workers can apply under Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program.

As Express Entry is a points-based system, interested applicants need to get a good score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) which awards points based on various factors such as age, education, work experience, etc. Those with high CRS scores are given an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence.

In the Express Entry Year-End Report of 2020, candidates in the technology sector dominated other candidates in other professions.

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

Launched in January 2022, the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway provides an expedited pathway to foreign tech workers who would like to like and work in an Alberta-based tech company.

To apply under this pathway, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria. To be eligible, candidates need to be working in Alberta or have a valid job offer in one of the 23 eligible occupations. Some eligible occupations include graphic designers, illustrators, mechanical engineers, and user support technicians.

British Columbia Tech

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) includes a priority stream for tech workers called the BC Tech Stream. 

BC Tech targets candidates who have received valid job offers from employers in one of the 29 eligible tech occupations. Some of the occupations on the list include software engineers, computer programmers, computer network technicians, web designers, developers, and writers.

Ontario Tech

The Ontario Provincial Nomination Program also includes a stream dedicated to tech workers. 

To be invited, candidates need to be eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class. They also need to have work experience in one of the following six tech occupations:

• software engineers and designers;
• computer programmers and interactive media developers;
• computer engineers;
• web designers and developers;
• database analysts and data administrators; and
• computer and information systems managers.

   

Saskatchewan Tech Talent

The Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway aims to attract highly skilled tech sector professionals to Canada’s prairie province. 

To be eligible, applicants must have a permanent, full-time job offer from an employer in the technology or innovation sector in Saskatchewan.