STEM Occupation list Canada 2024
2023-12-08 | Abroad Pathway Immigration | Leave a Comment
Canada really wants more folks who know science, tech, engineering, and math. The government's Express Entry program now gives priority to people with backgrounds in STEM Occupation when it selects applicants under Express Entry Process. Canada's got a lot of jobs to fill in STEM fields and needs more talent.
A recent report shows that Canada's got a major shortage of skilled workers in STEM. This gap comes from high retirement rates and new tech advances happening way faster than we can keep up. To fill this shortage, Canada's government sees that attracting and keeping talented STEM experts is crazy important these days.
Jobs in science, tech, engineering, and math pay well in Canada. Way better than jobs in other fields. This past year STEM workers made around 90 grand on average. Meanwhile, the average Canadian salary was just 69K. So nearly thirty grand more! And STEM hourly wages at the end of 2022 were over $35 per hour. More than double what service industry folks make per hour.
Basically if you work in a technical field up here, you'll bring home a big paycheck. Bigger than teachers or restaurant managers or stuff like that. The numbers show Canada rewards engineering know-how and computer skills more than other career paths.
Check your eligibility for STEM Occupations Category
Eligibility for STEM Occupations Category
To qualify for the STEM Occupation Category under Express Entry, you need to check off certain boxes laid out by the immigration folks. What's on the list? For starters,
- You must be eligible for one of the Express Entry programs - Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
- You need at least 6 months of work experience under one of the listed STEM occupation within the past 3 years.
- You must also fulfill all other requirements specified in the instructions for the category-based draw.
List of STEM Occupation Category
| NOC Code | Occupation |
| 20010 | Engineering managers |
| 20011 | Architecture and science managers |
| 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
| 21200 | Architects |
| 21201 | Landscape Architects |
| 21202 | Urban and land use planners |
| 21203 | Land surveyors |
| 21210 | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 21211 | Data scientists |
| 21220 | Cyber security specialists |
| 21221 | Business systems specialists |
| 21222 | Information systems specialists |
| 21223 | Database analysts and data administrators |
| 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
| 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
| 21232 | Software developers and programmers |
| 21233 | Web designers |
| 21234 | Web developers and programmers |
| 21300 | Civil Engineers |
| 21310 | Electrical and electronics engineers |
| 21311 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 21321 | Industrial and manufacturing engineers |
| 21322 | Metallurgical and materials engineers |
| 41400 | Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
It's important to note that these occupations represent only a fraction of the entire list. The IRCC has identified a total of 24 occupations falling under the STEM category, each contributing to the advancement of various industries in Canada.
Benefits of Pursuing a STEM career in Canada
Choosing a STEM career in Canada can be pretty awesome. There's tons of jobs available as these fields keep growing and the pay is usually better than average too so you can live comfortably and have room to advance. Since STEM drives innovation, you'll be part of cutting-edge stuff like new technologies or research breakthroughs. That's exciting to be on the leading edge! These jobs also let you grow your career over time, even internationally if you want to explore global opportunities. Most importantly, STEM professionals get to make a real positive impact on society whether its through healthcare sustainability, or just pushing technology forward in new ways.
So you feel good helping people's lives while also making progress. There's just so many advantages if you go into one of these in-demand fields. You get to do interesting work that also pays well and matters. It's awesome to have those options if youre passionate about science, tech or related areas.
How to Pursue a STEM Career in Canada
If you wanna go after a career in STEM in Canada, there's a few things to think about.
- First, gotta make sure you're even eligible for one of the Express Entry programs - maybe the Federal Skilled Worker deal or the Canadian Experience Class.
- Next, get yourself some solid work experience like 6 months at least of working a STEM job on that list from the IRCC.
- You'll wanna brush up on your English or French too so you pass their language test
- Can’t forget about having the right schooling for whatever STEM job either.
- Getting a high score on that Comprehensive Ranking, focus on things that give you points like your age, education, language skills experience and whatnot.
- Finally, keep your ear to the ground on news from the IRCC or wherever about changes and new opportunities in STEM careers. Stay on top of it all and you'll do alright.
