In 2025, Carney\u2019s liberals have promised massive infrastructure investments, even as they\u2019ve made cuts to both temporary and permanent residence (PR) programs that would provide skilled workers.<\/p>\n
In Budget 2025, the government promised investments in infrastructure, including roads, pipelines, and ports, as well as residential housing.<\/p>\n
Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration<\/a><\/p>\n Given the ongoing shortage of skilled tradespeople and construction workers, and Canada’s recent decline in population<\/a>, this raises the question: Where will Canada find the workers to build this housing and infrastructure?<\/p>\n Carney\u2019s building program and Budget 2025 highlight an opportunity for tradespeople and construction workers to gain a foothold in the Canadian labour market.<\/p>\n Foreign nationals looking to build a life in Canada as skilled tradespeople can take advantage of two routes to gain legal work authorization: work permits<\/a> and PR<\/a> pathways.<\/p>\n Work permits: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)<\/p>\n To obtain a work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)<\/a>, a foreign national must submit an application with a job offer from an employer with a positive or neutral labour market impact assessment (LMIA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other than being qualified for the job and obtaining an LMIA-support job offer, a foreign national need only meet Canada\u2019s general admissibility requirements, such as not having a criminal record, burdensome health conditions, or posing a risk to national security or public safety.<\/p>\n As of the time of writing, for an employer to obtain an LMIA, the job must either<\/p>\n Permanent residence<\/p>\n Category-based draws through Express Entry<\/p>\n Foreign nationals eligible for an Express Entry<\/a>-managed immigration program have an advantage if they meet the work experience requirement for one of the trades eligible for the Trade occupations category-based draw<\/a>.<\/p>\n The following occupations are eligible for Trade occupation draws:<\/p>\n \tOccupation2021 NOC code<\/p>\n \tBricklayers72320<\/p>\n \tCabinetmakers72311<\/p>\n \tCarpenters72310<\/p>\n \tConcrete finishers73100<\/p>\n \tConstruction estimators22303<\/p>\n \tConstruction managers70010<\/p>\n \tConstruction millwrights and industrial mechanics72400<\/p>\n \tContractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services82021<\/p>\n \tCooks63200<\/p>\n \tElectrical mechanics72422<\/p>\n \tElectricians (except industrial and power system)72200<\/p>\n \tFloor covering installers73113<\/p>\n \tGas fitters72302<\/p>\n \tHeating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics72402<\/p>\n \tHeavy-duty equipment mechanics72401<\/p>\n \tHome building and renovation managers70011<\/p>\n \tIndustrial electricians72201<\/p>\n \tMachinists and machining and tooling inspectors72100<\/p>\n \tOther technical trades and related occupations72999<\/p>\n \tPainters and decorators (except interior decorators)73112<\/p>\n \tPlumbers72300<\/p>\n \tRoofers and shinglers73110<\/p>\n \tSheet metal workers72102<\/p>\n \tWater well drillers72501<\/p>\n \tWelders and related machine operators72106<\/p>\n *Occupations that were added to Canada’s Trades occupations category based selection list in 2025 have been bolded.<\/p>\n Most foreign nationals will qualify for Express Entry by meeting the requirements for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)<\/a> or the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)<\/a>. Some may qualify through the Federal Skilled Trades Program<\/a> (FSTP), which requires either a certificate of qualification, or a valid job offer.<\/p>\n The main requirements consist of meeting the minimums for work experience, education, and official language proficiency. Foreign nationals outside Canada who don\u2019t qualify for the CEC will also need to have adequate settlement funds.<\/p>\n To qualify for the Trade category, they\u2019ll need at least six months full-time (or equivalent part-time) continuous work experience in a single eligible occupation within the past three years.<\/p>\n