Canada May Link PGWPs to Specific Occupations

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June 12, 2024

Canada’s immigration system is brewing significant changes for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, according to discussions between federal and provincial officials. Currently, the PGWP grants international students who graduate from designated learning institutions (DLIs) an open work permit.

Linking PGWPs to Labor Market Needs

Internal documents from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Deputy Minister’s office (2024) shed light on a potential overhaul too link PGWP issuance directly to labor market needs. This translates to potentially smoother access to work permits for graduates with in-demand skills, while potentially restricting access for graduates from other programs.

Aligning Education with In-Demand Skills

The driving force behind this potential shift appears to be aligning educational programs with the skills most sought-after in the Canadian job market. Internal IRCC survey documents reveal efforts to map job titles to specific programs of study.This mapping exercise involved synchronizing Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system with the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system. Essentially, these systems categorize occupations (NOC) and educational programs (CIP) by field. The documents use the example of the “carpenter” NOC being linked to programs like “construction trades,” “carpentry,” and “woodworking/general.”

Why the Shift? Realigning with Labor Market Needs

IRCC reiterates its goal of “re-aligning with labor market needs” to facilitate work permits for graduates entering high-demand fields, while potentially limiting access for others. Notably, Canada’s last major PGWP update came in 2008,introducing open work permits based on study length. IRCC data highlights a 214% increase in PGWP issuance between 2018 and 2023.

Potential Downstream Effects on Immigration Pathways

These proposed PGWP changes might be part of a larger picture concerning temporary residency levels in Canada. Recent sweeping changes announced by IRCC regarding temporary residents (work/study permits, visitor visas, electronic travel authorizations) hint at further motivations. Following the 2024 international student cap announcement, IRCC took the historic step of including temporary resident levels in the annual Immigration Levels Plan for the first time. This move,beyond prioritizing permanent resident and citizen hiring, might also be a strategy to address pressure on social services (healthcare, housing) by potentially reducing the annual influx of temporary residents.

The potential PGWP revamp could have significant downstream effects on immigration pathways for international graduates in Canada. Gaining Canadian work experience through the PGWP is a key factor for eligibility in many permanent residence (PR) programs, particularly federal and provincial economic programs that often target graduates. If implemented, these changes could significantly impact future immigration opportunities, even for those currently studying in Canada.