New Immigration Pathway to Attract Newcomers to Stay in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Provincial Government today announced Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador, a new immigration pathway under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP). Launching on January 2, 2021, the pathway will attract highly educated, highly skilled newcomers with specialized experience working in sectors such as technology, where a growing demand has outpaced local training and recruitment.

The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour, made the announcement today at the Emera Innovation Exchange at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Signal Hill Campus.

Employers in high-growth sectors requiring specific skills have been asking for the new pathway because their attempts to recruit locally have not met the growing demand for skilled and experienced workers.

Pathways similar to Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador account for up to 70 per cent of all immigration applications approved in other provinces.

Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador will be open to persons who have one or more of the following advanced academic or specialized qualifications in priority sectors such as information and communications technology, oceans technology, health care, agriculture and aquaculture:

• Memorial University Masters or PhD degree graduates, whose studies have been completed within the last three years; or
• Exceptionally qualified individuals who have worked in a specialized, highly skilled, high-demand occupation for at least one year.

Someone meeting eligibility criteria will be assessed on their expression of interest and may be invited to submit an application under the NLPNP. More information can be found in the backgrounder below.

The list of in-demand occupations will be revisited on a regular basis, to best address provincial labour priorities.

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Provincial Government continues to plan for future growth and to meet the 2022 target of increasing immigration to 2,500 new permanent residents annually.

Quotes

“We have exciting opportunities in emerging and traditional industries and we are working to recruit the necessary talent and skills to bring these opportunities to fruition. This new focus in Priority Skills for immigration builds on the gathering momentum to attract and retain more newcomers with fresh ideas and perspectives for growth.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Employers have been asking for a new immigration pathway flexible enough to help them meet the growing demand for highly-skilled workers in sectors where they are challenged to hire locally, such as technology. The new Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador pathway has wide-reaching potential and I look forward to working with our partners to ensure its maximum benefit.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour