Archive - March 2021

Canada’s job scene: Understanding the Feb 2021 survey results

On March 24, 2021, the Canadian province of Saskatchewan held an immigration draw. New immigration candidates were invited to file an application for a nomination from Saskatchewan.

The candidates invited were eligible to receive a nomination provincially from the SINP. These candidates belonged to the category of International Skilled Worker. Out of the candidates invited in the draw, 183 will possibly have eligibility for the Express Entry subcategory. 235 candidates will possibly be receiving nominations via the Occupations In-demand subcategory.

Candidates of both streams who were invited required a minimum EOI score of 70 so that they may receive an invitation. They also required to get their ECA done to prove that their foreign education aligned with Canadian standards.

The candidates also required work experience in one of the in-demand jobs, 78 in all, listed on the government website. These include social workers, medical lab technicians, and educational counselors.

About the Occupations In-Demand subcategory

The Occupations In-Demand sub-category is a base PNP. This means that it’s open to immigration candidates without an Express Entry profile. The highly-skilled workers who arrive apply under this sub-category will have experience in an occupation considered in-demand. However, they won’t have a job offer in the province inviting them to work in Canada.

If a candidate has to apply for Canada immigration via this sub-category, foreign nationals trying to immigrate to Canada will have to create an EOI profile. This will be created via the online application system of SINP.

Saskatchewan’s EOI system permits the province to select immigration candidates with the ability to thrive in the province. The candidates will be assessed based on their education, work experience, connections to Saskatchewan, and age.

After their assessment, they get a score out of 100. This will be given based on the Points Assessment Grid of SINP. The candidates who score among the highest will be issued an invitation to apply for a nomination from Saskatchewan to become a Canadian permanent resident.

About the Express Entry sub-category

The Express Entry sub-category is linked to the Express Entry system. The Express Entry system manages the visa applications of immigration candidates for economy class immigration programs. These are FSTP, FSWP, and CEC.

Immigration candidates with EOI profiles created for Saskatchewan will be treated eligible to apply for a nomination from a province.

Express Entry candidates who get provincially nominated received 600 extra CRS points. This assures them that they will get a guaranteed ITA for Canada PR in a subsequent federal immigration draw.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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Note:

SINP – Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System

EOI – Expression of Interest

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

FSWP – Federal Skilled Worker Program

FSTP – Federal Skill Trades Program

CEC – Canadian Experience Class

Quebec’s new pilot immigration program is open from Mar 24, 2021

March 27, 2021

Canada’s job scene: Understanding the Feb 2021 survey results

Quebec has opened its new pilot immigration program meant for workers in the food production sector to accept applications. The pilot was opened on March 24, 2021. The pilot program is a pathway for immigration to Quebec for TFWs in eligible jobs in the food production sector.

Applications can be submitted for 2021 between March 24, 2021, and October 31, 2021. MIFI has plans to choose 550 immigration candidates per year via this pilot. The pilot will meet its closure in January 2026.

Quebec’s pilot program for food production workers

This new pilot program under Canada immigration is meant for those working in Quebec’s production of food or beverages. The pilot covers the following occupations:

Occupation	NOC
Laborers in fish and seafood processing	9618
Laborers in food and beverage processing	9617
Fish and seafood plant workers	9463
Poultry preparers & related workers and industrial butchers & meat cutters	9462
Process control & machine operators, food & beverage processing	9461
General farmworkers	8431
Specialized cleaners	6732

Applicants of this pilot program must:

Have experience of at least 2 years in the last 3 years in the food or beverage production industry.
Currently, be at work in Canada full-time in the food/beverage production sector in Quebec.
Possess a proficiency of level 7 in French. The proficiency will be measured by the EQNCF.
Be qualified with at least a DES or DEP.

This pilot program is one of the three programs announced in May and July 2020. Pilot programs were also started for workers in visual effects, IT, and AI.

These pilot programs have been created to enable immigrants to employ their skills in particular areas of work and contribute fully to the development of Quebec.

The travel restrictions introduced at the Canadian border led to a sharp fall in Quebec’s economic activity. The province’s GDP went down by 5.2% and employment went down by 4.6% in 2020. That trend is expected to be reversed in 2021.

A 5% growth in GDP is forecasted along with a 5.1% increase in employment in Quebec in 2021.

About Orderlies Pilot Program

The Orderlies Pilot program is scheduled to start on March 31, 2021. The pilot is meant for nurse aides, patient service associates, and orderlies. This pilot program covers the following occupations:

Occupation	NOC
Home support workers, housekeepers, and related occupations	4412
Licensed practical nurses	3233
Allied primary health practitioners	3124
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	3012
Nursing coordinators and supervisors	3011

Applicants under this pilot program must:

Possess a DEP in a field of study related to any of these occupations in the 2 years before submitting the application
Have a minimum of 2 years of experience in this job type
Be at present working in any one of the above-stated jobs
Have proficiency in French of level 7 as measured by EQNCF

Pilot Program for Workers in AI, IT, and Visual Effects

This pilot program is divided into 2 streams. One of them is for individuals working in AI and the other is for specialists in visual effects and IT workers.

The AI stream will accept up to 275 candidates. The people in this stream will already be working or will have accepted full-time employment in Quebec in AI. They will have:

A minimum Level 7 proficiency in French as measured by EQNCF or
Enrolled in a training program for the French language

This stream makes a distinction between the ones who graduated from Quebec and those who graduated outside Quebec.

Candidates who graduated outside Quebec must have:

A university degree that’s equivalent to Quebec’s bachelor’s degree
At least $100,000 as salary within the limits of the MUC or a minimum of $75,000 outside the MUC
One of the following:
- A full-time work experience of 2 years in occupations with NOC codes O, A, or B within the last 5 years
- A university degree equivalent to masters/doctoral degree from a university in Quebec issued within the period of a year

Those who graduated from Quebec must have:

DESS, masters/doctoral degree, from Quebec under the last 2 years and have stayed in the province for at least half the period of that study program
Work experience. (Those with a DESS must have completed a minimum of 6 months of full-time work in a NOC category O, A, or B occupation within a year following graduation

The visual effects stream will also accept 275 candidates at the most. This stream is open to those in the following jobs:

Occupation	NOC
Graphic designers and illustrators	5241
Audio and video recording technicians	5225
Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations	5131
Computer network technicians	2281
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	2241
Computer programmers and interactive media developers	2174
Software engineers and designers	2173
Information systems analysts and consultants	2171
Electrical and electronics engineers	2133
Computer and information systems managers	0213

Candidates for this stream must have:

A minimum proficiency level of 7 in French as measured by EQNCF or
be enrolled in a training program for the French language

They also must:

have a DEC from Quebec or a bachelor’s degree from a Quebec university
have completed a minimum of 2 years in a full-time job in an eligible occupation within the last 5 years
either presently be employed or have accepted an offer for employment in one of the acceptable categories of occupation with a salary offered that’s more than 90% of the average wage over the past 3 years for this job in Quebec as measured by MTESS.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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Note:

EQNCF – Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes

DES – High school diploma

DEP – diploma of vocational studies

MUC – Montreal Urban Community

MTESS – Ministry of employment, the Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

Manitoba does another PNP draw, invites 355 candidates

March 27, 2021

Canada’s job scene: Understanding the Feb 2021 survey results

On March 25, 2021, Manitoba held a PNP immigration draw that invited 355 Canada immigration candidates. They received invites to apply for a provincial nomination for Canada PR.

Manitoba’s provincial nomination will give the invited candidates issued via MPNP will open the chance for the candidates to get the status of being a Canadian permanent resident.

Manitoba invites skilled and eligible immigration candidates to apply for a nomination via the following PNP streams:

International Education
Skilled Workers in Manitoba
Skilled Workers Overseas

Candidates under the Skilled Workers streams must have their EOI profiles already submitted before the draw.

Here’s a summary of the draw’s results:

Immigration stream	No. of invitations	Minimum EOI score
International Education	41	None
Skilled Workers Manitoba	285	423
Skilled Workers Overseas	9	711

49 of these invites, also known as LAAs, were issued to Express Entry candidates.

How to immigrate to Manitoba

There are many immigration programs that Manitoba offers to those who are willing to immigrate to the province. The MPNP helps manage the affairs around immigration and it, in turn, supports immigration applications to the federal government. The Manitoba PNP issues provincial nomination from Manitoba and helps a prospective immigrant reach out for a Canada PR visa being backed well by the province.

A candidate immigrating to Canada via Manitoba must first register an EOI with the MPNP. That’s what enables the candidates to get an LAA via the Skilled Workers stream as well as the Skilled Workers Overseas stream in Manitoba.

Selected candidates are ranked out of 1,000 points for factors like age, education, work experience, connections in Manitoba, proficiency in the English/French language. The connection with Manitoba can be demonstrated as previous experience of living in the province, having family ties in the province, or being invited via one of the province’s strategic recruitment initiatives.

The candidates invited via the Skilled Workers streams are those who the province finds suitable to meet its labor market requirements. The candidate needn’t be living in Manitoba while he/she is applying so as to be considered eligible for a visa.

However, to get invited under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba category, the candidate must be in a full-time job offered by an employer in Manitoba.

If an international graduate has completed his/her study in Canada from Manitoba, he/she is eligible to receive an LAA. This will be under the International Education Stream. For this, the candidate must demonstrate that he/she has the in-demand skills the province requires.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

LAA – Letters of Advice to Apply

EOI – Expression of Interest

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

MPNP – Manitoba PNP

How Institutions send electronic academic records to WES

March 26, 2021

Canada issues invites to 5,000 Express Entry candidates

There are many institutions around the world that are producing academic records in an electronic or digital format. WES (World Education Services) has now entered into a partnership with many educational institutions to accept documents of work or student visa applicants in electronic format from secure, official, and verified sources.

When it comes to procuring an evaluation report, sending necessary documents in electronic format can speed up the completion of the report. With WES, the security and efficiency of sharing your academic records are assured.

There are effective methods to share with WES the digital documents required.

To begin with, enquire with your sending institution whether they have an electronic option for transmission of documents. Even though they are not in support of this option, WES could still accept electronic documents from the institutions.

It’s to be noted that in order to set up electronically submitting documents, the institution must have an email address that’s verifiable with ease.

About institutions sharing documents with WES

Institutions must review their academic website and the documents required by WES. An institution can share electronic documents with WES in 3 ways:

Direct Transmission Channels
Online Platform
Email

Direct Transmission Channels

WES enters into partnership with international institutions in the hundreds as well as third-party providers. This is to receive electronic documents via verified channels. These channels, closed and secure, enable institutions to transmit documents to WES directly.

For fast and secure document delivery, WES gives 2 options namely:

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)
API (Application Programming Interface)

Institutions are supposed to use only one of these verified channels to transfer the documents to WES. As of now, some of the institutions that have entered into a partnership with WES include:

University of Santo Tomas
University of Mumbai
University of Benin
The University of the West Indies, Mona
Parchment
National Student Clearinghouse
ENIC Ukraine
Docswallet
Credentials Solutions
CHESICC (China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center)
CNRED (Centrul Național de Recunoaștere și Echivalare a Diplomelor)

Online Platform

WES procures electronic documents from institutions via the online platform, the most common way of doing so. The institution issuing the documents may have its own online platform. If not, it may take the service of a third-party provider. The electronic documents are issued as certified PDFs with a digital signature.

The following are the steps to share documents from online platforms:

Log in to the institution’s account connected with the online platform.
Select WES as the recipient of the documents in electronic format.
If WES can’t be selected as the recipient, there’s the choice to send the documents to the email address listed on WES’s page named “Required Documents”. If documents are sent to any other email, it will create delays in document processing.

It has to be noted that WES uses these email addresses only to collect documents. For any other queries, Customer Service has to be contacted.

Once WES receives the link permitting it to access the documents, it will collect them and go ahead with evaluation. Only electronic documents sent directly via the official online platform of the institution or third-party service provider will be considered official.

Online platforms WES works with include:

University of Birmingham
University College London
Norwegian Diploma Registry
National University of Singapore
National Student Clearinghouse
My eQuals
Gradintelligence
Escrip-Safe
Digitary Core

Email

In case no other option is available to retrieve electronic documents from an institution, the institution may send them via email as attachments. For this, they will have to use their official institutional email.

The rules for emailing documents are as follows:

The sender’s email on the website the institution’s website must be verifiable.
The sender must have the authority to send academic records. The departments responsible for sending documents include
- the Office of the Registrar
- the Exams, Awards & Graduation Department
- the Controller of Examinations
- the Office of Academic Records.
- the Department of Student Services
The documents attached with the email should be shared in a format like PDF which is secure and immutable.
It’s necessary that emails pass stringent checks such as security and anti-spoofing authenticity.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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Norway scene 2021: All about the economy and jobs

March 26, 2021

Norway

Singapore 2021: The latest on jobs for skilled workers

Let’s examine the economic situation in Norway in 2020 and 2021 to better understand the performance of the country’s economy and the opportunities for employment it offers. This will be helpful if you are intending to work overseas in Norway.

There was a limited economic downturn in 2020 in comparison to most European countries. The reason was softer measures to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic which offset a partial global reduction in gas and oil prices. These are Norway’s main exports.

The projection for Norway’s economy indicated a decline at a rate of 2.8%. It rebounds to 3.6% in 2021. The seasonally adjusted GDP as per Statistics Norway reduced by 0.9% in November 2020 in mainland Norway.

In 2020, the dip and recovery of Norway’s economy happened faster than in most European countries. Norway was hit fast by a shard dip in gas and oil prices. In March 2020 the Krone hit a 40-year low. In April 2020, Norway made the decision to reduce its short-term production. This was an effort made to increase global oil prices.

In June 2020, Norway’s economic recovery started. In the country, the first wave of COVID-19 ended sooner than most parts of Europe. There was no expansion of Norway’s government gross debt in 2020. This was in contrast to the situation in the rest of Europe despite monetary support from the public as well as a comprehensive loan program to Norwegian banks.

Norway’s current account surplus is projected to make a rapid recovery to touch $18.3 million in 2021. This is assumed based on an increase in oil prices in 2021. The value of the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund continued to be relatively stable in 2021. Krone was steady while the US Dollar and Euro offset a dip in energy prices globally.

Inflation in Norway stood below 2%, which was the target in 2020. It was however projected to improve up to 3.3% in 2021. This was based on an expectation that domestic recovery will recover in 2021.

Norway is a rich country. It has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. Norway also has the top rank in the UN Development Program’s Human Development Index. From 2016, unemployment decreased gradually until the start of the COVID-19. The reduced activity in the hospitality sector particularly affected this positive trend. The projected unemployment rate in 2020 was 4.5%. The projection for 2021 is 4.3% and 4% in 2022.

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Why not Malta? Update on Malta’s economy, jobs in 2021 and beyond

March 26, 2021

Europe

Singapore 2021: The latest on jobs for skilled workers

The smallest economy in the EU zone, Malta has a highly industrialized and service-based economy. The latest reports on the country’s economy show that the country’s agricultural sector had an estimated contraction of 12.5% in 2020. The major reason for this was the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

18% of the workforce in the country is employed by the industrial sector. This sector represents 12.5% of the GDP. The country’s economy is primarily based on the manufacture of pharma products and microchips. The manufacturing sector contributes 7% of the country’s GDP. In 2020, it reduced to 5% due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The tertiary sector represents 75.6% of the country’s GDP. 81% of the workforce of the country is employed in the tertiary sector. The tourism sector of the country powers the economy of Malta. This sector contributes to the GDP at one of the highest rates in the EU. With the COVID-19 crisis, this sector got highly affected. There was a dip of 75% in the number of visitors to the country in the period from January 2020 to November 2020.

Similarly, the accommodation and food services sector saw a decrease of 65.5%. The dip was 31.1% for transportation & storage and 18.1% for wholesale and retail trade.

But the forecast for Malta’s economy for 2021 done by the European Commission has some interesting news. The following are the main observations:

Malta’s economy will grow by 4.5% in 2021.
Though Malta’s economy contracted at the third-largest rate in the EU, its effect was partially mitigated by the stimulus measures of the Government of Malta.
The strain on Malta’s open economy in 2020’s last quarter continues in the first quarter of 2021.
It’s expected that the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination and gradual lifting of restrictions in the EU will bring Malta’s tourism industry back on track.
In 2022, Malta’s economy is expected to expand by 5.4%. At that point, net exports will again be the main contributor to the growth of GDP. Domestic demand will make a steady but slower contribution.
The growth prediction for Malta is the largest considering all EU member states. The main contributor to economic recovery will be the tourism industry.
In 2021, it’s expected that inflation will rise to 1.3% in the backdrop of recovering domestic demand as well as increased demand for services in the tourism sector.
In 2022, going with a stronger economic recovery, inflation will rise to 1.6%.

So, Malta definitely looks like it’s going to have a positive trend in economic growth which will definitely open up greater opportunities for skilled international workers.

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UAE’s job scene: Learning about UAE’s job prospects in 2021

March 26, 2021

UAE

Immigration guide: How to move to Canada from the UAE

UAE's job scene: Learning about UAE's job prospects in 2021

Let’s talk about the economic scene and the job trends in the UAE. The UAE is no less a place to consider when it comes to you deciding to work overseas. The middle-eastern country is progressive and open to development in many areas including information technology, engineering, tourism, and more.

The UAE has been severely affected by the COVID-19, despite which, the country is keeping its reputation up and sticking to the prospect of a full-fledged recovery. The process may be hard, but this country has the potential to get back into its best shape once the vaccinations help the country overcome the pandemic.

Lately, the UAE government has been keen to develop new-age skills in its young population. Even if the country is focused on staying an energy-producer for the coming 50 years, it’s also focusing on elevating its position in the area of technology.

The stage is now set in the UAE to bring up the technology sector, the vision for which highly envisages the implementation of digital technology in businesses and other sectors of governance and enterprise.

This resolve has been strengthened during the COVID-19 crisis. Lots of job opportunities are going to keep opening in the UAE which gives tech-skilled international workers the chance to find their right place to make the right career move.

The sectors for the future that the UAE has identified to work on include:

Genomics
Regenerative medicine
Financial technology engineering
Cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence
Internet of Things
Data science

In fact, the whole gulf area is on the path of development with a new vision and renewed vigor. The Hays 2021 GCC Salary & Employment Report gives a clear picture of the employment trends and forecasts for GCC countries. These include:

The UAE
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Oman
Kuwait
Bahrain

The survey, which is the base of the report, was conducted on 3,500 employees and employers in the GCC region, which consists of the above-mentioned nations. It looked at the hiring and salary trends from 2020 in detail, as well as the employer and employee expectations for 2021.

There were 9 core disciplines covered in the report. They were:

Sales
Procurement & Supply Chain
Office Support
Marketing & Digital Marketing
IT & Digital Technology
Human Resources
Property & Engineering
Construction
Banking & Financial Services
Accountancy & Finance

The following were the important findings in the report:

2020

45% of employers cut down their organization’s headcount in 2020
28% were severely affected by the COVID-19
21% of businesses were immune to or positively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
The sectors that performed in the most robust manner with the least pay cuts in 2020 included Banking & Capital Markets, Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences, and Telecom
Sectors that had the most salary cuts (34%) were Property, Engineering, Hospitality & Tourism, Aviation
48% of employees had their salaries in 2020 continued from 2019

2021

82% of companies are either undergoing recovery or on business as usual or in phases of growth in business after the pandemic
64% expect to rope in additional staff in the coming 12 months
47% of employers expect their organization’s salaries to increase in 2021
78% of employees aim at making their working patterns more flexible in 2021

So, keep an eye on the latest developments and opportunities in the UAE.

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Canada’s job scene: Understanding the Feb 2021 survey results

March 26, 2021

Canada

Prince Edward Island issues 150 invites in latest PNP draw

The latest situation of Canada’s job scene and job trends can be assessed and understood from the observations and updates of the Labor Force Survey. The latest report on jobs and labor-related statistics was published in February 2021 by the Labor Force Survey.

Skilled foreign workers have always found Canada the most ideal destination to migrate for jobs either with a Canada work visa or a Canada PR visa. The options and opportunities for international workers that Canada keeps open to immigrate surpasses what any other country of the world offers.

To understand the present and future of job generation, expectations from immigrants, and the ups and dips that happened in the Canadian job scene, let’s glance at the Labor Force survey results.

The data from the Labor Force Survey in February 2021 reflects the labor market conditions during the week of February 14 to Feb 20, 2021. The following are some of the important observations made from the report.

Many non-essential businesses, few in-person dining, and cultural and recreation facilities were reopened in early February. This followed the easing of public health restrictions.
The easing of restrictions was more evident in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Quebec. The restrictions imposed before were also lifted in Ontario on February 10 and 15, 2021.
Several measures were eased in Manitoba on February 12, 2021, while Newfoundland and Labrador brought back lockdown in the province on February 12, 2021. This led to the widespread closure of businesses that are non-essential.
In February, employment in Canada increased by 259,000. This resurgence was after a dip by 266,000 over the 2 previous months.
Part-time work increased by 171,000 and full-time work increased by 88,000.
There was an increase of 226,000 in the employees in the private sector.
In comparison with February 2020, February 2021recorded a fall in people employed by 599,000. 406,000 more people worked less than half of their usual working hours.
The unemployment rate fell 1.2% and reached 8.2%. This was the lowest unemployment rate since March 2020.
The number of workers in retail trade increased by 122,000 in February 2021.
Employment in the accommodation and food services industry increased by 65,000. This was primarily driven by Ontario and Alberta.
Employment increased in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec by 100,000 and 113,000 respectively.
British Columbia, Manitoba, and Alberta also increased. But Newfoundland & Labrador recorded a decline in employment at the same time.
The youth unemployment rate fell by 2.6%, reaching 17.6% in February 2021. This was higher compared to the 10.4% recorded in February 2020.
Employment hiked by 134,000 among individuals aged 25 to 54 years. This restored many of the jobs that were lost in January 2021, especially among women who were into part-time employment.
Employment among individuals aged 55 and older increased by 25,000 in February 2021.
There has also been a hike by 1.4% in the total hours worked which was driven by the gains in wholesale and retail trade.
Despite the dip in population growth in Canada, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in population has happened nevertheless. The immigrants who arrived in Canada, including those who came as skilled] workers in in-demand occupations, have contributed to the population growth.

The performance of Canada in the largest part has been quite positive and progressive in 2021 so far. This is seen in the way the country has organized immigration draws that is tending to invite a large number of candidates. For those who are willing to work overseas, Canada has set the right stage for setting foot in the country that has always had the best to offer newcomers.

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Careers best chosen: Highest paid jobs in Canada in 2021

March 26, 2021