The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is used by the Government of Canada to classify and assess the skills of immigrants who wish to live and work in the country. The NOC 2021 was released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on December 31st, 2020 and includes truck driving as one of the 16 new eligible occupations for Express Entry. This is due to the current labor shortages in the trucking industry and the need for qualified drivers to fill these positions.
There is A Significant Shortage of Truck Drivers
Trucking HR Canada’s 2021 Labor Market Snapshot reveals a significant shortage of truck drivers in Canada. As many as 18,000 vacancies were available in the truck driving sector in Canada in the second quarter of 2021. Canada’s supply chain, which relies heavily on truck driving, has been disrupted by COVID-19 layoffs in the truck driving sector, a high rate of retirement, and a lack of qualified drivers to meet the demand. The trucking industry is essential to the economy moving over $850 billion in products to domestic and export markets, and the shortage of drivers is hurting businesses across the country amounting to approximately $450 million in lost productivity.
How to Come to Canada Through Express Entry
There are many ways to immigrate to Canada, but Express Entry is one of the most popular and efficient programs. Express Entry is a points-based application management system that allows skilled workers to come to Canada permanently. To be eligible for Express Entry, you must first meet the requirements of one of the economic immigration programs: The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
If you meet the criteria of one of these programs, you will be entered into a pool of candidates. From there, you will be given a score based on your age, education, work experience, language skills, and other factors. The highest-scoring candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residence. The Express Entry system is designed to be fast and efficient, so if you are eligible, it is definitely worth applying!
How A NOC Affects an Express Entry Application
The NOC is a key factor that IRCC uses in determining whether an Express Entry candidate will be found eligible to apply for permanent residence. Under Express Entry, candidates are awarded points based on their human capital factors, which include their training, education, work experience, and responsibilities (TEER). One of the human capital factors is the NOC code that is assigned to the job that the candidate currently holds or has held in the past.
The NOC code is used to assess a candidate’s skills and experience. Candidates with NOC codes that are classified as 0, A, or B are typically awarded more points than those with NOC codes that are classified as C or D. The NOC code can also affect a candidate’s eligibility for certain programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Candidates who have a valid job offer or who have already been working in Canada for at least one year may also be awarded additional points.
