By choosing the right employer and occupations, international students and recent graduates in Canada can put themselves on a strong track to gain permanent residence (PR).<\/p>\n
Gaining at least six months of work experience (in addition to meeting minimum program requirements) in an eligible occupation under an Express Entry category can help PR candidates in Canada receive an invitation to apply (ITA) with a significantly lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score than typically seen for other draw types.<\/p>\n
See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories and streams For many recent graduates, this may be the easiest pathway to PR, as compared to other avenues such as Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).<\/p>\n This article will go through the employers that work in relevant sectors and hire for occupations that qualify for Express Entry categories, based on the Globe and Mail\u2019s list of top employers for young people in Canada, released on January 20, 2026.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that Express Entry categories<\/a> are based on occupations, not employers. While this article is written with the intention of organizing employers by the category they best fit under, inclusion in each category will be highly dependent on what roles each employer is hiring for at a given time.<\/p>\n Occupational categories covered:<\/p>\n Best practices on confirming whether a given job posting corresponds to a category-eligible occupation<\/a> will also be covered.<\/p>\n Note: Employers for Express Entry\u2019s \u201cEducation\u201d category were not considered, as most of the top employers did not fit cleanly into this sector. Similarly, employers were not listed for the \u201cPhysicians with Canadian work experience\u201d category, as roles within that group have higher requirements than international students and recent graduates are likely to meet.<\/p>\n Top employers in Healthcare and social services occupations<\/p>\n This category spans clinical healthcare and regulated\/support roles across the health system.<\/p>\n It includes physician and specialist, nursing, allied health (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors), diagnostic and lab, pharmacy, paramedical, and animal health (veterinarians and vet technologists\/technicians) roles.<\/p>\n It also explicitly includes social workers, counselling therapists, and social\/community service workers.<\/p>\n A full breakdown of the category can be found on our dedicated webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n The following table lists each of the selected employers that operate in these fields, along with the corresponding reasons that they were chosen as top employers in Canada:<\/p>\n \tEmployerNotable traits<\/p>\n \tHolland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Healthcare, Toronto)\u2022 Undergraduate research program in childhood disability<\/p>\n \u2022 Dedicated roles for Indigenous students and students with disabilities<\/p>\n \u2022 Accessible co-op placements for current\/former clients (with OT\/job-coach and peer-facilitator support) + nursing leadership training via the Nightingale Challenge<\/p>\n \tHospital for Sick Children (SickKids) (Healthcare, Toronto)\u2022 Accelerated BScN Scholar Practitioner partnership (employs ~20 students per cohort; hiring grads since 2011)<\/p>\n \u2022 Research Training Centre serving 1,400+ trainees (seminars\/workshops)<\/p>\n \u2022 Career-readiness programs for research fellows (coaching, job-search training, and a $10,000 seed grant)<\/p>\n \tProvidence Health Care (Healthcare and regulated support roles, Vancouver)\u2022 Employed student nurse program with educator-led orientation and mentorship<\/p>\n \u2022 Annual Practice-Based Research Challenge with training\/mentorship + $5,000 for winning teams<\/p>\n \u2022 Paid Health Care Access Program covering wages, tuition, and books for 9\u201312 months of accelerated training into entry-level healthcare assistant roles (one-year work commitment after)<\/p>\n \tHealth Canada (Federal government)\u2022 Young Professionals Network (including MegaConnex networking + mentorship with senior executives)<\/p>\n \u2022 Initiatives to retain\/rehire students with prior federal experience (bridging and rehire inventories for permanent\/returning roles)<\/p>\n \u2022 Structured orientation\/onboarding resources (student sessions, onboarding guide, training checklists)<\/p>\n \tVCA Canada Ltd. (Veterinary care, Calgary)\u2022 Summer roles for DVM students + six-month mentorship program for new grads<\/p>\n \u2022 Fully funded RVT Penn Foster scholarship for associates (education, exams, first-year registration)<\/p>\n \u2022 Student loan\u2013RRSP matching program (matches part of student loan repayment up to 5% of annual salary, with lower fees and advisor access)<\/p>\n Top employers in STEM occupations<\/p>\n IRCC<\/a>\u2019s STEM list is broad, and includes engineering-heavy roles (civil, mechanical, electrical\/electronics, industrial\/manufacturing, geological), related engineering technologists\/technicians, cybersecurity specialists, plus architecture and science managers.<\/p>\n Notably, the current list also includes insurance agents and brokers, even though these are typically not seen as \u201cSTEM\u201d jobs.<\/p>\n A full breakdown of the category can be found on our dedicated webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n The following table lists some of the selected employers who operate in these fields, along with corresponding reasons that they were chosen as top employers in Canada:<\/p>\n \tEmployerNotable traits<\/p>\n \tAtkinsR\u00e9alis (Engineering services, Montreal)\u2022 18-month Odyssey program for new grads (skills training, dedicated development time, e-learning, mentorship)<\/p>\n \u2022 Youth Advisor Initiative connecting young professionals via social and development events nationwide<\/p>\n \u2022 Energizing Your Career program using assessments, tools, and senior-leader connections to clarify and advance career paths<\/p>\n \tLEA Consulting Ltd. (Engineering services, Markham)\u2022 Young Professionals Group running training and mentoring sessions<\/p>\n \u2022 24-month Transportation Professional-in-Training program with rotations across 2\u20133 organizational pillars toward professional designation<\/p>\n \u2022 Pilot leadership development program with job shadowing, leadership training, and mentorship<\/p>\n \tBC Hydro (Hydroelectric power generation, Vancouver)\u2022 AccessAbility Network supporting employees with disabilities and allies<\/p>\n \u2022 Embeds diversity and inclusion actions into executive and leader performance objectives<\/p>\n \u2022 Recruits and supports Indigenous talent via Indigenous Employment and Training (with First Nations partnerships, training plans, joint initiatives, and career advising)<\/p>\n \tHitachi Rail (Specialized IT services, Toronto)\u2022 Structured intern onboarding (handbook, in-person orientation, tours, end-of-term checklist, buddy program)<\/p>\n \u2022 Peer\/executive connection opportunities (ExCom \u201cAsk Me Anything\u201d sessions, bi-weekly intern coffee breaks)<\/p>\n \u2022 End-of-term Intern Showcase to present achievements and share resumes with hiring managers<\/p>\n \tSophos Inc. (Custom computer programming services, Vancouver)\u2022 Structured mentorship program (two six-month cohorts\/year; minimum one hour\/month; program manager support\/resources)<\/p>\n \u2022 Leadership development programs for different stages, including aspiring leaders without management experience<\/p>\n \u2022 Learning and development ecosystem (online\/in-house training) + Internal Coaching Scheme for on-demand support<\/p>\n \tAIG Insurance Company of Canada (Insurance, Toronto)\u2022 Early career analyst program + \u201cFirst 100 Days\u201d transition support for new grads<\/p>\n \u2022 10-week summer internship (masterclasses, speaker series, mentoring circles, networking) feeding into full-time campus hires<\/p>\n \u2022 Young Professionals and Allies ERG with year-round events and senior-leader mentorship<\/p>\n See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories and streams Top employers in Trades occupations<\/p>\n This category covers a broad range of hands-on skilled trades and construction leadership, including construction managers, home building\/renovation managers, and construction estimators\u2014plus classic trades like machinists, sheet metal workers, welders, electricians (including industrial), plumbers, gas fitters, carpenters, cabinetmakers, and bricklayers.<\/p>\n It also includes several finishing\/building trades such as concrete finishers, roofers, painters\/decorators, and floor covering installers, and even contractors\/supervisors in oil and gas drilling and services.<\/p>\n A full breakdown of the category can be found on our dedicated webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n The following table lists some of the selected employers who operate in these fields, along with corresponding reasons that they were chosen as top employers in Canada:<\/p>\n \tEmployerNotable traits<\/p>\n \tPCL Construction (Industrial and commercial construction, Edmonton)\u2022 PCL Student Program with supervisor and buddy support over 4\u201316 month terms<\/p>\n \u2022 Accelerated development programs for superintendent and estimating\/risk early-career leaders (leadership + technical skills + mentoring)<\/p>\n \u2022 Six-month new-grad onboarding with check-ins and peer\/senior-leader networking + interest-free payroll deduction plan enabling share program participation and employee ownership within four years<\/p>\n \tArcelorMittal Dofasco (Iron and steel manufacturing, Hamilton)\u2022 Large trades apprenticeship program with Mohawk College (on-the-job training leading to certification)<\/p>\n \u2022 Comprehensive onboarding blending classroom\/shop, gamified and simulated training + offsite \u201cPlay to Win\u201d executive-led forum<\/p>\n \u2022 Student Insight Program for interns with events focused on operations exposure, networking, and skills (goal-setting, communication, personal branding)<\/p>\n \tATCO Ltd. (Energy, transportation and infrastructure development, Calgary)\u2022 Four-year engineer-in-training program with three 16-month rotations, mentorship, peer coaching, and professional development toward P.Eng.<\/p>\n \u2022 CPA pre-approved rotational program (6\u201318 months per rotation) providing practical experience and mentorship toward CPA designation<\/p>\n \u2022 Financial wellness sessions for students covering planning basics (spending, saving, borrowing)<\/p>\n \tGibson Energy Inc. (Oil and gas distribution, Calgary)\u2022 Engineer-in-Training program with technical training, mentorship, a 12-month field assignment, and cross-functional placements<\/p>\n \u2022 Student and New Grad community group with events, volunteer opportunities, lunch-and-learns, and team-building<\/p>\n \u2022 30-month CPA rotational program with mentorship, paid exam time off, and reimbursement of eligible CPA costs\/dues<\/p>\n \tCRH Canada Group Inc. (Concrete manufacturing, Vaughan)\u2022 Internships ranging from 3\u201316 months (including a 12-week ready-mix concrete internship with training, shadowing, site visits, and ACI certification support), plus orientation, networking, project assignments, and end-of-term presentations<\/p>\n \u2022 Building Future Leaders forum (3-day event) for nominated early-career employees featuring workshops, networking, guest speakers, and action-learning projects presented to senior leaders for potential implementation<\/p>\n Top employers in Agriculture and Agri-food occupations<\/p>\n As of the time of writing, the agriculture and agri-food category consists of only one eligible occupation: Butchers \u2013 retail and wholesale.<\/p>\n The following table lists some of the selected employers who operate in fields that hire for butchers, along with corresponding reasons that they were chosen as top employers in Canada:<\/p>\n \tEmployerNotable traits<\/p>\n \tLoblaw Companies Ltd. (Supermarkets and grocery stores, Brampton)\u2022 Co-ops and internships across functions (including one-year engineering internships for professional engineering year students)<\/p>\n \u2022 Career-growth resources for students and new grads (development tools, individual plans, assessments, Learning Academy courses) + Networking Department Fair to connect with talent acquisition<\/p>\n \u2022 Student-led intern committee organizing social\/development activities, including monthly peer-to-peer mentoring<\/p>\n \tMaple Leaf Foods Inc. (Food processing, Mississauga)\u2022 Three-year rotational Leadership Track graduate program with plant tours, shadowing, senior-employee mentorship, and a custom week-long course at Ivey Business School<\/p>\n \u2022 Four-month reverse mentorship program where co-op students mentor full-time employees via bi-weekly one-on-ones and events<\/p>\n \u2022 Year-round co-op hiring for 4\u20138 month placements across departments (e.g., marketing, QA\/food safety, IT, sales, food technology, HR, engineering)<\/p>\n How can I be sure that the job I am looking for is included in one of Express Entry\u2019s categories?<\/p>\n If you find a job posting for an occupation that you believe may fit into one of Express Entry\u2019s categories, you can take the following steps to confirm:<\/p>\n Do a preliminary check of the category, trying to match the job title from the posting, with the job titles of the occupation-eligible category available on the official National Occupation Classification<\/a> (NOC) 2021 page; This is the most important step to determine inclusion\u2014if most of the main duties do not match, then it is likely that you do not have a match.
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\nIf you think you have found a match for your job posting based on the occupation title, check the occupation’s main duties against the roles and responsibilities listed in the job posting.<\/p>\n
\nPay special attention to the \u201cexclusions\u201d section of the occupation page to ensure your job posting does not fall under any excluded occupation.<\/p>\n