Ontario In-Demand Skills Stream – A Practical Pathway for Workers and Employers

In recent years, I’ve seen many clients who wish to immigrate to Canada but worry that their job titles are not considered “high-skilled.” They often assume that only engineers, IT professionals, or financial analysts can get nominated through Ontario’s immigration programs.
However, that is not entirely true. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers a special pathway called the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream — and it was created exactly for people in occupations that the province needs the most but that are often classified as “intermediate” under Canada’s job system.

Understanding the In-Demand Skills Stream

The In-Demand Skills Stream is designed to help foreign workers in essential or hands-on occupations gain permanent residency in Ontario. It targets workers in construction, manufacturing, healthcare support, and transportation — industries that keep the province running but consistently face labour shortages.

Unlike the streams that require years of post-secondary education or highly skilled NOC categories, this stream focuses on real, practical skills. If you have experience in one of Ontario’s listed “in-demand” occupations and a valid, full-time job offer from an approved Ontario employer, you may qualify for a provincial nomination — even if your position falls under NOC level C or B.

This stream is a recognition by the province that Canada’s economy depends not only on executives or professionals but also on truck drivers, machine operators, construction workers, and personal support workers.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, you must have a permanent and full-time job offer in Ontario in one of the in-demand occupations classified under TEER 4 or TEER 5 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021).

Your employer must:

• Be located in Ontario.

• Have been in active business for at least three years.

• Meet minimum revenue and staffing requirements:

  • If the employee will work or report to work inside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) — that is, in the City of Toronto, or the Regions of Durham, Halton, York, or Peel — the employer must have:

    • At least $1,000,000 in total annual gross revenue, and

    • At least five full-time Canadian citizen or permanent resident employees working at the business location.

  • If the employee will work or report to work outside the GTA, the employer must have:

    • At least $500,000 in total annual gross revenue, and

    • At least three full-time Canadian citizen or permanent resident employees working at the business location.

• Submit the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal before the applicant registers an Expression of Interest (EOI).

As the applicant, you must:

• Have at least nine months of cumulative paid, full-time work experience in the same occupation as your job offer within the past three years.

• Hold the required licence or certification if the occupation is regulated in Ontario (for example, construction or medical support roles).

• Demonstrate a language proficiency of at least CLB 4 in English or French.

• Have an education level equivalent to a Canadian secondary school diploma or higher.

• Prove that you intend to live and work in Ontario permanently once you receive your nomination.

Examples of In-Demand Occupations

The list of occupations may change as Ontario updates its labour market priorities, but commonly included examples are:

• Transport truck drivers

• Heavy equipment operators

• Construction labourers and trades helpers

• Machine operators and welders

• Home support workers and personal care aides

• Farm workers and harvesters (in some regions)

• General labourers in manufacturing and food processing

This range reflects the reality that Ontario’s economy needs both academic and vocational skill sets.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The process begins with your employer, not the applicant. The OINP system became employer-driven in 2025 through the new Employer Portal, which replaced paper submissions.

1. Employer creates a Job Offer:
   They register in the portal, submit business details, and create a job offer for you.

2. You register an Expression of Interest (EOI):
   Once the job offer is approved, you use its unique ID to submit your profile to OINP’s EOI pool.

3. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA):
   If your EOI score is high enough, Ontario will issue an invitation.

4. Employer and applicant submit applications:
   The employer must apply for Employment Position Approval within 14 days, and you must submit your application for nomination within 17 days of receiving the ITA.

5. Receive nomination and apply for PR:
   Once approved, you’ll get 600 CRS points (if you’re in the Express Entry system) or can apply directly for permanent residence through IRCC.

In-Demand Occupations under OINP (2025)

If the job is outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

You may apply if your job offer is in any of the following occupations (TEER 4 or TEER 5):

Construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare jobs such as:

• NOC 65201 – Heavy equipment operators

• NOC 73300 – Transport truck drivers

• NOC 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers

• NOC 94103 – Machine operators in metal or mineral processing

• NOC 94130 – Assemblers and inspectors in manufacturing

• NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers

• NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

• NOC 84120 – Nursery and greenhouse workers

• NOC 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations

…and several other similar occupations listed on the OINP website for rural or regional labour needs.

If the job is inside or outside the GTA (Toronto, Durham, Halton, York, or Peel)

The job offer can be anywhere in Ontario — either inside or outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) — and must be in one of the following occupations listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021) TEER Category 4 or 5:

• NOC 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations

• NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale

• NOC 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers

• NOC 75119 – Other trades helpers and labourers

• NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators

• NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers

• NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

• NOC 85103 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers

• NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers

So yes — the list is narrower inside the GTA.
If your job offer is for a position like farm worker, greenhouse labourer, or harvesting worker, you would not qualify inside the GTA — only outside GTA locations are eligible for those NOCs.

Why Choose the In-Demand Skills Stream?

From my perspective as an immigration consultant, this stream offers realistic and attainable opportunities for many people who are already working in Ontario or have a job offer but lack a university degree.
It recognizes the economic value of workers who build, maintain, and care for communities — and that’s what makes it special.

Other advantages include:

• A lower language and education threshold.

• No need for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).

• Eligibility for people already working in Canada on a valid permit.

• A pathway to PR supported by the employer, providing stability and long-term planning options.

However, applicants must be cautious about timelines and accuracy. Incomplete or poorly prepared applications can be returned, delaying opportunities for nomination.

Professional Insight

In my consultations, I always remind clients that “In-Demand” doesn’t mean “easy.”
The application must meet exact provincial requirements, and the employer must be eligible under OINP standards. For example, if the business fails to meet revenue or staffing minimums, even a strong candidate can be refused.

Also, each job offer must meet the wage level required for that occupation and region (based on Job Bank data). A low wage or a temporary contract automatically makes the offer ineligible.

For those applying from abroad, it’s crucial to demonstrate genuine intent to settle in Ontario — through family ties, prior work or study experience, or a detailed settlement plan.

Final Thoughts

The OINP In-Demand Skills Stream is not just another immigration route — it’s a bridge between employers struggling to fill essential roles and skilled workers eager to make Ontario their home.

If your occupation appears on the in-demand list and your employer is ready to support you, this stream can open the door to permanent residency in Canada.

At Ghasedak Immigration and Legal Services, we help clients and employers navigate each stage of this process — from verifying eligibility to preparing accurate submissions through the Employer Portal.

Your skills are valuable. Ontario needs them.
And with the right strategy, this could be your pathway to a new life in Canada.

Source : canada.ca/immigration
Assessment Form: Click here