In-Demand Jobs for Canada PR (Express Entry) in 2026 (Updated on Feb 20, 2026)

First Published Date: Jan 6, 2026 Last Updated Date: Feb 20, 2026

Author: Tiffany Chia

Your Complete Guide to Express Entry Category-Based Draws & IRCC-Approved Occupations

If you’re planning to apply for permanent residence in Canada, there’s one thing you absolutely need to know in 2026:

Your job can make or break your Express Entry invitation.

IRCC is now focusing on specific occupations through category-based draws under Express Entry. That means if your job is on the list of In-Demand Jobs for Canada PR in 2026, you could be invited faster — even with a lower CRS score.

In this blog, we’ll break down the complete list of the Top in-demand jobs for Canada PR, verified by IRCC, and show you how to use this list to boost your immigration success.

We have updated this blog with the latest announcement made by the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on Feb 18, 2026.

🎯 Why the In-Demand Jobs Matter for Canada PR in 2026

IRCC introduced category-based selection to tackle labour shortages in key industries like healthcare, skilled trades, engineering, and education.

If your occupation is on the official list in 2026 and you have completed at least 12 months of full -time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) within the past 3 years, you may be eligible for special Express Entry draws that:

✅ Prioritize your occupation over your CRS score

✅ Invite you faster than general draws

✅ Qualify your spouse for an open work permit (in many cases!)

✅ Help you settle with long-term PR benefits

📋 How This List Was Created

This list was curated directly from:

📌 IRCC’s official category-based draw occupation lists in 2026

📌 Verified NOC 2021 codes

📌 Current Express Entry and PNP trends in 2026

Source: IRCC Website

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🧑‍⚕️ Healthcare & Social Services Occupations

Healthcare leads the In-Demand Jobs for Canada PR in 2026. Here are the 37 exact roles IRCC is inviting through category-based draws:

Occupation	NOC 2021 Code	TEER
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians	32104	2
Audiologists and speech language pathologists	31112	1
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists	32123	2
Chiropractors	31201	1
Dental hygienists and dental therapists	32111	2
Dentists	31110	1
Dieticians and nutritionists	31121	1
General practitioners and family physicians	31102	1
Licensed practical nurses	32101	2
Massage therapists	32201	2
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations	33101	3
Medical laboratory technologists	32120	2
Medical radiation technologists	32121	2
Medical sonographers	32122	2
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates	33102	3
Nurse practitioners	31302	1
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors	31300	1
Occupational therapists	31203	1
Optometrists	31111	1
Other medical technologists and technicians	32129	2
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating	31209	1
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment	32109	2
Paramedical occupations	32102	2
Pharmacists	31120	1
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants	33103	3
Pharmacy technicians	32124	2
Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals	31303	1
Physiotherapists	31202	1
Psychologists	31200	1
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	31301	1
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists	32103	2
Social and community service workers	42201	2
Social workers	41300	1
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine	31100	1
Specialists in surgery	31101	1
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies	41301	1
Veterinarians	31103	1

🛠️ Trade

If you're working in the 25 trades occupations, this is your moment!

Occupation	NOC 2021 Code	TEER
Bricklayers	72320	2
Butchers- retail and wholesale	63201	3
Cabinetmakers	72311	2
Carpenters	72310	2
Concrete finishers	73100	3
Construction estimators	22303	2
Construction managers	70010	0
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics	72400	2
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services	82021	2
Electrical mechanics	72422	2
Electricians (except industrial and power system)	72200	2
Floor covering installers	73113	3
Gas fitters	72302	2
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics	72402	2
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics	72401	2
Home building and renovation managers	70011	0
Industrial electricians	72201	2
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors	72100	2
Other technical trades and related occupations	72999	2
Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)	73112	3
Plumbers	72300	2
Roofers and shinglers	73110	3
Sheet metal workers	72102	2
Water well drillers	72501	2
Welders and related machine operators	72106	2

🧠 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Occupations

Although there has been no recent STEM draws, these are the 11 eligible STEM occupations.

Occupation	NOC 2021 Code	TEER
Architecture and science managers	20011	0
Civil engineering technologists and technicians	22300	2
Civil engineers	21300	1
Cybersecurity specialists	21220	1
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	22310	2
Electrical and electronics engineers	21310	1
Geological engineers	21331	1
Industrial and manufacturing engineers	21321	1
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians	22301	2
Mechanical engineers	21301	1
Software engineers and designers	21231	1

🍎 Education

These 5 teaching roles are included.

Job Title	NOC Code	TEER
Disability Instructors	42203	2
ECEs & Assistants	42202	2
Elementary School Teachers	41221	1
Secondary School Teachers	41220	1
Teacher Assistants	43100	3

🩺 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience

New in 2026! 3 occupations made it for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience

To be eligible, you must:

• have accumulated, within the past 3 years:

  • at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)

  • in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)

  • in Canada

Job Title	NOC Code	TEER
General practitioners and family physicians	31102	1
Specialists in surgery	31101	1
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine	31100	1

🚚 Transport Occupations

New in 2026! 4 occupations made it for Transport Occupations

To be eligible, you must:

• have accumulated, within the past 3 years:

• at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)

• in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)

• in Canada or abroad

Job Title	NOC Code	TEER
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers	72410	2
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors	72404	2
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors	22313	2
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors	72600	2

🏢 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience

New in 2026! 4 occupations made it for Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience

To be eligible, you must:

• have accumulated, within the past 3 years:

• at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)

• in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)

• in Canada

Job Title	NOC Code	TEER
Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities	00015	0
Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services	00014	0
Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations	00013	0
Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services	00012	0

🎓 Researchers with Canadian Work Experience

New in 2026! 2 occupations made it for Researchers with Canadian Work Experience

To be eligible, you must:

• have accumulated, within the past 3 years:

• at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience)

• in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)

• in Canada

Job Title	NOC Code	TEER
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants	41201	1
University professors and lecturers	41200	1

🎖 Skilled Military Recruits

New in 2026! 3 occupations made it for Skilled Military Recruits

To be eligible, you must:

• be a Foreign Skilled Military Applicant (FSMA)

• have work experience and training aligned with one of the occupations listed below

• have an offer of arranged employment with the Canadian Armed Forces

Job Title	NOC Code	TEER
Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces	43204	3
Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces	42102	2
Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces	40042	0

🧾 Summary Table

Category	Jobs Count
Healthcare & Social Services	37
Trades	25
STEM	11
Education	5
Physicians with Canadian Work Experience	3
Transport Occupations	4
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	4
Researchers with Canadian Work Experience	2
Skilled Military Recruits	3
Total	94

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❓FAQs

Q: Do I need Canadian work experience?

A: No. Foreign work experience is accepted if it’s continuous 12 month, full-time, within the last 3 years and in one of the in-demand jobs (NOC code) except for Physicians, Senior Managers and Researchers.

Q: What if my job isn’t on the list?

A: You can still apply through regular Express Entry programs, including:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

You may also qualify under a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

However, you will not receive priority invitations under category-based draws unless your occupation (NOC Code) is included in an announced category.

Q: Are these NOC codes guaranteed to stay the same?

A: No.

Express Entry categories and eligible occupations are determined annually by IRCC based on:

• Labour market shortages

• Economic priorities

• Sector demand

The information in this guide reflects updates announced in 2026 and is subject to changes. It has been updated a number of times over the years.

Q: What are the new categories announced by Canada in 2026?

A: In 2026, Canada introduced additional targeted categories under Express Entry to address critical labour shortages.

• Categories Requiring Canadian Experience:

  • Physicians

  • Senior Managers

  • Researchers

• Category Requiring a Job Offer from the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group:

• Skilled Military Recruits
  

Q: Does being in an In-Demand category guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

A: No.

Category eligibility increases your chances of receiving an ITA but does not guarantee one.

You must still:

• Meet Express Entry eligibility requirements

• Maintain a competitive CRS score

• Submit a complete and accurate profile

Meet category-specific criteria at the time of the draw Q: How can I confirm if my occupation qualifies?

A: To determine eligibility:

• Identify your correct NOC 2021 code.

• Confirm your TEER level.

• Review the official IRCC category-based selection page.

• Ensure your job duties match the NOC description — not just the job title.

Is Your Job on the List?

Here's What to Do Next Now that you know your occupation is in-demand, the next question is: "Am I eligible? What's my CRS score? How do I actually apply?"

Get our FREE Express Entry Quick Start Guide 2026 and discover:

✅ Simple eligibility checklist

✅ Latest CRS score ranges for 2025 and 2026

✅ How to match your NOC code correctly

✅ Proof of funds requirements

✅ Your exact next steps

👉 Download Your Free Guide today!

👩‍💼 About the Author

Tiffany Chia, RCIC, Founder of 1to1 Immigration Inc., Vancouver. Originally from Singapore, Tiffany immigrated to Canada over a decade ago. Since founding 1to1 Immigration in 2015, she has helped hundreds of families, students, and professionals achieve their Canadian immigration goals with confidence, expertise, and care.

⚖️ Disclaimer

Immigration policies may change at any time. Information is accurate as of the date of publication and is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice.

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