In keeping with the trend in the past few years, Express Entry candidates in tech and IT occupations were issued huge numbers of invitations to apply for permanent residency in 2019-2020. The maximum nuber of invitations under the tech worker category went to software engineers and designers.
The list of professions under the tech worker category which acquired the maximum number of tech invitations included:
- Information systems analysts and consultants
- Computer programmers
- Interactive media developers
Nearly 15,000 candidates in these three occupations alone were invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence in 2019, nearly the same total number invited in 2018 for these occupations.
Most common occupations among Express Entry invitations
| Occupation | NOC | 2019 invitations | 2018-2019 difference | 2019 % of total |
| Software engineers and designers | 2173 | 6,529 | 403 | 7.70% |
| Information systems analysts and consultants | 2171 | 4,645 | -784 | 5.40% |
| Computer programmers and interactive media developers | 2174 | 3,819 | 369 | 4.50% |
| Financial auditors and accountants | 1111 | 2,607 | 124 | 3.10% |
| Administrative assistants | 1241 | 2,407 | 72 | 2.80% |
| Professional occupations in business management consulting | 1122 | 1,838 | -77 | 2.20% |
| Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations | 1123 | 1,808 | -241 | 2.10% |
| Administrative officers | 1221 | 1,694 | 238 | 2% |
| University professors and lecturers | 4011 | 1,684 | -258 | 2% |
| Advertising, marketing and public relations managers | 124 | 1,588 | -187 | 1.90% |
| Financial and investment analysts | 1112 | 1,549 | -372 | 1.80% |
| Foodservice supervisors | 1122 | 1,544 | 109 | 1.80% |
| Accounting technicians and bookkeepers | 1311 | 1,484 | 288 | 1.70% |
| Mechanical engineers | 2132 | 1,416 | 142 | 1.70% |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 2172 | 1,312 | 274 | 1.50% |
Canada’s PNP programs are inviting tech workers
Canada has recognized the need to have skilled IT workers and is using its Express Entry aligned provincial nominee programs to invite software and IT workers to Canada to provinces that have a high demand for tech workers. This has significantly increased the number of invitations issued to tech workers from Canada.
Here are details of the number of invitations issued to tech workers under two popular provincial tech pilot programs in 2020 till date.
British Columbia Tech Pilot program
| Date of draw | Number of invitations issued |
| July 7, 2020 | 57 |
| July 21, 2020 | 62 |
| July 28,2020 | 34 |
| August 11, 2020 | 52 |
| August 25,2020 | 72 |
| Total number | 277 |
Ontario Tech Pilot program
| Date of draw | Notifications of interest (NOIs) issued |
| January 15, 2020 | 954 |
| May 13, 2020 | 703 |
| July 29, 2020 | 1288 |
| Total | 2945 |
Need for tech workers
Canada is keen to address more tech workers in the country. According to a report published last year by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), Canada needs more software and IT workers in the Information Technology (IT) sector in 2020. Canada’s Express Entry immigration system has helped to address this labor shortage.
Tech occupations ranked among the top three occupations by the number of candidates invited to apply. Information technology experts and consultants, as well as computer programmers and digital media developers, were the top three positions invited under this category.
Almost 15,000 applicants in those three fields were invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada in 2019.
Technology professionals and engineers are the two foremost in-demand fields in Canada, and they come under NOC 21.
Important occupations under the NOC include software developers, computer programmers, web designers, computer engineers, chemical engineers.
Tech workers also come under NOC 22 which includes computer network technicians, user support technicians, information systems testing technicians, and technologists and technicians in engineering fields.
Canada as a tech superpower
Canada is using its immigration policy to invite more tech workers and progressing towards becoming a tech superpower. Owing to the many pathways for PR visa available to tech workers, many highly skilled tech workers, start-ups and established corporations are now considering Canada.