How International Students and recent Graduates in Canada Can plan and Strategically Work Toward Permanent Residence:

For international students and newly graduates in Canada, permanent residence (PR) can be far more approachable with the right career strategy. Choosing the appropriate pathway and gaining experience in a qualifying occupation can significantly improve chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) through Canada’s Express Entry system.

In many cases, candidates can receive ITA on much lower Comprehensive Ranking System by accumulating at least six months of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation (on top of meeting the minimum criteria of an Express Entry program) than is usually required in general draws and also Compared to alternative pathways such as Provincial Nominee
Programs (PNPs) which is generally hard to achieve and processing times are also very long.

Employers That Hire for Express Entry–Eligible Occupations

This article highlights employers operating in sectors that commonly hire for occupations aligned with Express Entry categories. The selection is informed by “The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, published on January 20, 2026”

Some of the express Entry occupation categories that international students and recent graduates can target:

• Healthcare and social service occupations
• Trade occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

Leading Employers in Healthcare and Social Services- as per the report

The healthcare and social services category encompasses a wide range of regulated and support occupations across Canada’s health system.

Eligible occupations include physicians and specialists, nurses, and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors. The category also covers diagnostic and laboratory professionals, pharmacy staff, paramedical roles, and animal health professionals like veterinarians and veterinary technologists.

Beyond clinical roles, this category explicitly includes social workers, therapists, and community or social service workers or rehabilitation workers and these roles usually requires certification and the employers often hire without any experience.

1. Below listed some employer that foreign workers can apply if they the certifications and experience that aligns with their job requirements :

1. Provincial Health Authorities (BC Example): Fraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health.
2. Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Healthcare, Toronto
3. Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) (Healthcare, Toronto)\
4. Specialty Veterinarians in Calgary, AB
5. The Salvation Army in Canada

Trade occupation and employers

Canada’s skilled trades sector offers strong pathways to permanent residence under Express Entry, particularly for candidates with hands-on experience in construction, manufacturing, and industrial operations.

This category includes construction leadership roles such as construction managers, renovation managers, and estimators, as well as core skilled trades like electricians, welders, machinists, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, cabinetmakers, and sheet metal workers. It also covers finishing trades—including concrete finishers, roofers, painters and decorators, and floor covering installers—along with select contractor and supervisory roles in oil and gas services.

A full list of eligible trades occupations can be found on our dedicated Trades category webpage.

Examples of Leading Employers in Trades-Related Fields- according to the report

PCL Construction (Edmonton)
A major industrial and commercial construction firm known for structured student placements, early-career leadership development programs, and comprehensive onboarding for new graduates.

ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Hamilton)
One of Canada’s largest steel manufacturers, offering robust apprenticeship programs in partnership with post-secondary institutions and hands-on training toward trade certification.

ATCO Ltd. (Calgary)
Operates across energy and infrastructure sectors, supporting early-career professionals through rotational training programs, mentorship, and long-term skill development.

Gibson Energy Inc. (Calgary)
An energy infrastructure company providing technical training, field experience, and structured development opportunities for engineers, tradespeople, and new graduates

CRH Canada Group Inc. (Vaughan)
A leader in concrete and construction materials manufacturing, offering internships, site-based learning, and early-career leadership exposure.

2. Agriculture and agri-food occupation

Express Entry’s Agriculture and Agri-food category is limited to a single eligible occupation: Butchers (retail and wholesale). Despite its narrow scope, this occupation remains an important pathway for candidates with hands-on experience in food processing, meat preparation, and retail or industrial food operations.

Employers in the grocery, food manufacturing, and processing sectors often hire for butcher roles that may align with this category, depending on the position’s duties and the applicable National Occupation Classification (NOC).

Below are examples of major Canadian employers that operate in sectors employing retail and wholesale butchers, along with programs that support students and early-career professionals.

Selected Employers Hiring in Agri-Food-Related Fields

• Loblaw Companies Ltd.
One of Canada’s largest grocery and retail organizations, Loblaw offers co-op and internship opportunities across multiple business units. Students and new graduates benefit from structured career development tools, internal learning programs, and networking initiatives designed to support long-term growth within the organization.

• Maple Leaf Foods Inc
A leading food processing company in Canada, Maple Leaf Foods provides rotational graduate programs focused on leadership development, mentorship, and operational exposure. The company also hires co-op students year-round for placements across departments such as quality assurance, food safety, engineering, and food technology.

How to Confirm Whether a Job Fits an Express Entry Category

If you come across a job posting and are unsure whether it qualifies under one of Express
Entry’s occupation-based categories, the following steps can help you determine eligibility:

1. Start with the NOC system
Visit the official National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 website and review the occupations listed under the relevant Express Entry category. Look for job titles that closely resemble the position you are considering.

2. Compare job duties carefully
Matching job titles alone is not enough. Review the main duties listed under the NOC occupation and compare them to the responsibilities outlined in the job posting. If the majority of the duties align, the role may qualify.

3. Review exclusions closely
Each NOC occupation includes an “exclusions” section. This is a critical step—if the job falls under an excluded occupation, it will not be considered eligible, even if the title appears similar.

3.Navigating Canada’s immigration pathways—especially occupation-based programs like Express Entry—can be complex. Job titles, duties, and NOC alignment all play a critical role in determining eligibility, and even small mistakes can delay or can cause refusal .If you would like professional guidance tailored to your background and career goals, Doorstep Immigration Consultancy – doorstepimmigration.ca is here to help. Our experienced immigration professionals can assess your profile, confirm occupational eligibility, and guide you through
every stage of your permanent residence application with clarity and confidence.

To learn more or to book a consultation, contact Doorstep Immigration today and take the next step toward building your future in Canada.

Get in Touch- https://doorstepimmigration.ca/
+1 778 228 3109
info@doorstepimmigration.ca
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