Immigration Canada gives green light to 9 types of skilled workers

The federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is supporting a new international study that will help skilled workers in the United Kingdom and Ireland to assess their skills against Canadian guidelines.

Federal Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney was in London, England, for the signing ceremony between the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the UK National Accreditation Centre (UK NARIC). Our government's top priority is job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Kenney. This program will help find the skilled employees needed to expand their businesses and help new immigrants find jobs faster with their skills.

CIC will provide support to the ACCC in conducting the research and UK NARIC will be a subcontractor. The program is part of the CIC-funded Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP), which provides new immigrants with information about the job market and helps them find employment based on their skills, education and experience.

Meeting Canadian Training and Certification Requirements

The study will identify ways to align UK and Irish trade qualifications with Canadian requirements in nine skill areas, including heavy equipment technician, construction electrician, welder, carpenter, steam pipe fitter/pipe fitter, plumber, machinist, industrial machinist and wireman.

UK NARIC will develop an electronic guide, in consultation with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities, to assist in determining the alignment of trade qualifications in the UK and Ireland with Canadian training and certification requirements. This will help Federal Skilled Trades Program applicants better understand the requirements and expectations for tradespeople in the Canadian job market.