IRCC Reveals New Strategy to Attract International Talent

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made strides in its efforts to attract global talent through its new initiative called Skills Missions. This development is part of a broader plan outlined in the Strategic Immigration Review released in October 2023. The initiative aims to bring skilled professionals from around the world to Canada to help fill crucial roles and support the economy.
According to an Access to Information Request (ATIP), IRCC is in the process of laying the groundwork for these missions. The goal is to connect with talented individuals from countries where there are large pools of skilled workers. The missions involve IRCC staff, along with businesses and provincial or territorial representatives, traveling abroad to recruit talent.

The concept of Skills Missions falls under the jurisdiction of the Chief International Talent Officer (CITO), though it’s not yet clear if this position has been filled. Despite this, IRCC reports that significant progress has been made. They have been working on developing a detailed work plan, mapping out existing services, assessing ethical recruitment practices, and engaging in initial discussions with relevant stakeholders.

Feedback from the Strategic Immigration Review indicated that many Canadian employers find the process of hiring international talent daunting. This can discourage them from seeking workers from abroad, especially for urgent needs. Skills Missions are designed to simplify this process for employers by streamlining immigration procedures and bringing together all necessary parties to address specific talent needs.

Some provinces already run similar missions through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). For instance, Manitoba’s Strategic Recruitment Initiatives aim to help employers who urgently need skilled workers by nominating candidates from overseas.

IRCC’s Skills Missions will focus on a variety of countries, depending on the type of job and occupation. For regulated professions like healthcare and trades, the aim is to find countries with similar training and accreditation to make it easier for newcomers to start working in Canada. The missions will also avoid countries with local labor shortages to prevent any perception of "poaching" talent. For non-regulated professions, the focus will be on countries with large pools of skilled workers.

In addition to job-specific targets, IRCC will also look at countries with Francophone populations. This is in line with its goals under the Official Languages Act to increase the number of French speakers outside Quebec. The plan is for 6% of newcomers to Canada in 2024 to be French speakers.

The occupations targeted by Skills Missions will vary based on the region and the employers involved. The Canadian Occupational Project System, which predicts labor demand up to 2031, has highlighted shortages in healthcare, STEM fields, and skilled trades. These areas are expected to be a focus for upcoming missions, as well as in recent Express Entry draws.

Moving forward, IRCC will finalize the details of these missions by consulting with provincial and territorial governments and industry experts. This will involve organizing the logistics of the trips, selecting participating employers, and arranging travel. The Chief International Talent Officer will play a crucial role in these missions, ensuring they align with Canada’s labor market needs and sectoral strategies.