IRCC Operational Data – Occupations – Shift toward lower skilled
2023/02/28 Leave a comment
Given a number of public discussions and advocacy for a permanent residency stream for lower-skilled workers, given labour market pressures, exploitation of Temporary Foreign Workers and the bias/preference of immigration programs towards the higher skilled (justified IMO), I spent some time looking at IRCC’s operational data: Canada – Admissions of Permanent Residents 15 years of age or older by Province/Territory and Intended Occupation (4-Digit NOC 2011), January 2015 – December 2022 .
Taking out the “other” and “occupation not stated” categories, about two-thirds of all data, the data shows a shift over this period towards lower skilled: the percentage of highest skilled (NOC A – Occupations usually require university education) had fallen from 50.6% to 37.2%.
The other skilled category, NOC B – Occupations usually require college education, specialized training or apprenticeship training, increased from 34.9% to 38.8%, with more dramatic increases in lower skilled. NOC C – Occupations usually require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training, rose from 7.6% to 15.5%, and NOC D – On-the-job training is usually provided for occupations, rose from 6.0% to 8.1%.
The table below provides the annual details.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| A (0, 1) | 31,085 | 28,665 | 31,405 | 41,135 | 44,290 | 24,620 | 39,925 | 42,815 |
| B (2, 3 | 21,435 | 19,905 | 24,290 | 27,505 | 32,185 | 19,855 | 80,270 | 44,680 |
| C (4,5) | 4,640 | 4,000 | 3,935 | 5,600 | 7,695 | 3,030 | 14,920 | 17,905 |
| D (6,7) | 3,700 | 3,825 | 4,195 | 5,030 | 5,535 | 3,315 | 11,505 | 9,385 |
| Other | 152,280 | 166,815 | 164,100 | 175,735 | 180,775 | 97,040 | 188,830 | 229,450 |
| Occupation not stated | 45 | 100 | 35 | 20 | 220 | 150 | 240 | 345 |
| Total stated occupations | 61,375 | 56,870 | 64,155 | 79,585 | 90,230 | 51,065 | 146,955 | 115,225 |
| Total | 213,700 | 223,785 | 228,290 | 255,340 | 271,225 | 148,255 | 336,025 | 345,020 |
| A (0, 1) | 14.5% | 12.8% | 13.8% | 16.1% | 16.3% | 16.6% | 11.9% | 12.4% |
| B (2, 3 | 10.0% | 8.9% | 10.6% | 10.8% | 11.9% | 13.4% | 23.9% | 12.9% |
| C (4,5) | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 2.0% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| D (6,7) | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 3.4% | 2.7% |
| Other | 71.3% | 74.5% | 71.9% | 68.8% | 66.7% | 65.5% | 56.2% | 66.5% |
| Occupation not stated | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Percentage of stated occupations | ||||||||
| A (0, 1) | 50.6% | 50.4% | 49.0% | 51.7% | 49.1% | 48.2% | 27.2% | 37.2% |
| B (2, 3 | 34.9% | 35.0% | 37.9% | 34.6% | 35.7% | 38.9% | 54.6% | 38.8% |
| C (4,5) | 7.6% | 7.0% | 6.1% | 7.0% | 8.5% | 5.9% | 10.2% | 15.5% |
| D (6,7) | 6.0% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| A, B | 85.6% | 85.4% | 86.8% | 86.2% | 84.8% | 87.1% | 81.8% | 75.9% |
| C, D | 13.6% | 13.8% | 12.7% | 13.4% | 14.7% | 12.4% | 18.0% | 23.7% |
8 of the top 10 occupations that increased the most over this period were NOC C and D, all of which increased by 1,000 percent or more:
| 4412 – Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations |
| 6541 – Security guards and related security service occupations |
| 6622 – Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers |
| 6611 – Cashiers |
| 0601 – Corporate sales managers |
| 3237 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment |
| 7247 – Cable television service and maintenance technicians |
| 9461 – Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing |
| 7514 – Delivery and courier service drivers |
| 6623 – Other sales related occupations |
Another interesting aspect of the data is the relative lack of variation between the various occupational codes as shown in the following table with the last column showing the change 2015 to 2022. For all occupations, the share of NOC A decreases by an average of 12.4 percent or more, with the share of NOC C increasing by an average of 8.2 percent:
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Change 22-15 | ||
| 0 – Management | A (0, 1) | 26,325 | 24,320 | 25,975 | 34,855 | 38,050 | 21,500 | 36,050 | 37,675 | 66.0% | 66.4% | 65.4% | 67.1% | 64.7% | 64.4% | 42.1% | 53.1% | -12.9% |
| B (2, 3 | 8,390 | 6,970 | 7,995 | 9,600 | 12,125 | 7,210 | 32,565 | 18,615 | 21.0% | 19.0% | 20.1% | 18.5% | 20.6% | 21.6% | 38.0% | 26.3% | 5.2% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,645 | 1,635 | 1,640 | 2,605 | 3,425 | 1,445 | 7,000 | 8,100 | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 4.3% | 8.2% | 11.4% | 7.3% | |
| D (6,7) | 3,500 | 3,725 | 4,085 | 4,900 | 5,205 | 3,215 | 10,100 | 6,500 | 8.8% | 10.2% | 10.3% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 9.6% | 11.8% | 9.2% | 0.4% | |
| Total | 39,860 | 36,650 | 39,695 | 51,960 | 58,805 | 33,370 | 85,715 | 70,890 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 1 – Business & Admin | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 63.9% | 64.4% | 64.3% | 66.9% | 64.7% | 64.4% | 41.0% | 52.2% | -11.8% |
| B (2, 3 | 10,005 | 8,655 | 10,275 | 12,195 | 15,065 | 9,280 | 40,775 | 22,740 | 24.9% | 23.7% | 26.2% | 24.0% | 26.2% | 28.5% | 47.5% | 32.2% | 7.3% | |
| C (4,5) | 2,310 | 2,165 | 2,055 | 2,945 | 3,645 | 1,510 | 7,315 | 8,435 | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 8.5% | 12.0% | 6.2% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,160 | 2,165 | 1,650 | 1,665 | 1,595 | 800 | 2,545 | 2,575 | 5.4% | 5.9% | 4.2% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 3.6% | -1.7% | |
| Total | 40,130 | 36,520 | 39,195 | 50,830 | 57,500 | 32,540 | 85,805 | 70,550 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 2 – Sciences | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 63.1% | 63.0% | 63.1% | 66.6% | 64.5% | 63.9% | 40.6% | 52.6% | -10.5% |
| B (2, 3 | 11,260 | 10,040 | 11,520 | 12,995 | 15,645 | 9,650 | 42,085 | 22,665 | 27.7% | 26.9% | 28.8% | 25.4% | 27.1% | 29.4% | 48.5% | 32.4% | 4.7% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,605 | 1,590 | 1,560 | 2,440 | 3,245 | 1,375 | 6,905 | 7,950 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 4.2% | 8.0% | 11.4% | 7.4% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,160 | 2,165 | 1,650 | 1,665 | 1,595 | 800 | 2,545 | 2,575 | 5.3% | 5.8% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 3.7% | -1.6% | |
| Total | 40,680 | 37,330 | 39,945 | 51,125 | 57,680 | 32,775 | 86,705 | 69,990 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 3 – Health | A (0, 1) | 27,465 | 25,470 | 27,905 | 36,655 | 39,045 | 21,695 | 35,990 | 38,150 | 68.3% | 69.7% | 71.2% | 73.5% | 70.3% | 70.5% | 45.3% | 55.4% | -13.0% |
| B (2, 3 | 8,690 | 7,055 | 7,830 | 8,855 | 11,330 | 6,755 | 32,555 | 18,190 | 21.6% | 19.3% | 20.0% | 17.8% | 20.4% | 22.0% | 41.0% | 26.4% | 4.8% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,870 | 1,870 | 1,780 | 2,695 | 3,545 | 1,505 | 8,310 | 9,975 | 4.7% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 5.4% | 6.4% | 4.9% | 10.5% | 14.5% | 9.8% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,160 | 2,165 | 1,650 | 1,665 | 1,595 | 800 | 2,545 | 2,575 | 5.4% | 5.9% | 4.2% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.7% | -1.6% | |
| Total | 40,185 | 36,560 | 39,165 | 49,870 | 55,515 | 30,755 | 79,400 | 68,890 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 4 – Education & Govt | A (0, 1) | 28,605 | 25,945 | 27,955 | 37,675 | 41,585 | 23,325 | 38,225 | 40,590 | 68.6% | 68.8% | 70.0% | 72.4% | 68.5% | 69.3% | 44.6% | 54.7% | -13.9% |
| B (2, 3 | 8,445 | 7,310 | 7,960 | 9,225 | 12,135 | 7,280 | 34,520 | 19,355 | 20.2% | 19.4% | 19.9% | 17.7% | 20.0% | 21.6% | 40.2% | 26.1% | 5.8% | |
| C (4,5) | 2,505 | 2,265 | 2,395 | 3,505 | 5,420 | 2,255 | 10,500 | 11,700 | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.7% | 8.9% | 6.7% | 12.2% | 15.8% | 9.8% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,160 | 2,165 | 1,650 | 1,665 | 1,595 | 800 | 2,545 | 2,575 | 5.2% | 5.7% | 4.1% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 3.0% | 3.5% | -1.7% | |
| Total | 41,715 | 37,685 | 39,960 | 52,070 | 60,735 | 33,660 | 85,790 | 74,220 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 5 – Arts culture & Sport | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 67.5% | 67.8% | 68.3% | 71.1% | 68.4% | 68.3% | 44.9% | 55.7% | -11.8% |
| B (2, 3 | 8,595 | 7,430 | 8,515 | 9,755 | 12,325 | 7,530 | 33,750 | 18,735 | 22.6% | 21.4% | 23.1% | 20.4% | 22.7% | 24.6% | 43.1% | 28.4% | 5.8% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,605 | 1,590 | 1,560 | 2,440 | 3,245 | 1,375 | 6,905 | 7,950 | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 4.5% | 8.8% | 12.0% | 7.8% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,160 | 2,165 | 1,650 | 1,665 | 1,595 | 800 | 2,545 | 2,575 | 5.7% | 6.2% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.9% | -1.8% | |
| Total | 38,015 | 34,720 | 36,940 | 47,885 | 54,360 | 30,655 | 78,370 | 66,060 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 6 – Sales and service | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 65.1% | 66.1% | 65.4% | 67.6% | 64.7% | 64.6% | 40.2% | 50.3% | -14.8% |
| B (2, 3 | 9,305 | 7,975 | 9,765 | 11,675 | 14,770 | 9,050 | 40,970 | 22,185 | 23.6% | 22.4% | 25.3% | 23.2% | 25.7% | 27.9% | 46.8% | 30.3% | 6.7% | |
| C (4,5) | 2,115 | 1,880 | 1,865 | 2,870 | 3,705 | 1,540 | 7,745 | 9,165 | 5.4% | 5.3% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 6.4% | 4.8% | 8.8% | 12.5% | 7.2% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,310 | 2,215 | 1,735 | 1,770 | 1,860 | 875 | 3,690 | 4,965 | 5.9% | 6.2% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 4.2% | 6.8% | 0.9% | |
| Total | 39,385 | 35,605 | 38,580 | 50,340 | 57,530 | 32,415 | 87,575 | 73,115 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 64.3% | 65.8% | 67.2% | 70.8% | 67.9% | 68.7% | 42.3% | 53.4% | -10.9% |
| B (2, 3 | 10,365 | 8,345 | 9,005 | 9,865 | 12,645 | 7,315 | 37,910 | 20,410 | 26.0% | 23.3% | 24.0% | 20.5% | 23.1% | 24.0% | 45.6% | 29.6% | 3.6% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,705 | 1,705 | 1,600 | 2,485 | 3,290 | 1,390 | 7,440 | 8,900 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 4.6% | 8.9% | 12.9% | 8.6% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,185 | 2,200 | 1,675 | 1,685 | 1,635 | 820 | 2,675 | 2,820 | 5.5% | 6.1% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 4.1% | -1.4% | |
| Total | 39,910 | 35,785 | 37,495 | 48,060 | 54,765 | 30,475 | 83,195 | 68,930 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 8 – Natural resources, agriculture | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 68.2% | 68.8% | 70.2% | 72.7% | 69.7% | 70.2% | 46.0% | 56.3% | -11.9% |
| B (2, 3 | 8,080 | 6,865 | 7,420 | 8,540 | 11,175 | 6,675 | 31,675 | 17,625 | 21.5% | 20.1% | 20.6% | 18.2% | 20.9% | 22.4% | 41.4% | 27.0% | 5.5% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,740 | 1,665 | 1,655 | 2,600 | 3,400 | 1,410 | 7,070 | 8,285 | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 4.7% | 9.2% | 12.7% | 8.1% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,160 | 2,165 | 1,650 | 1,665 | 1,600 | 800 | 2,585 | 2,645 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 4.0% | -1.7% | |
| Total | 37,635 | 34,230 | 35,940 | 46,830 | 53,370 | 29,835 | 76,500 | 65,355 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 9 – Manufacturing and utilities | A (0, 1) | 25,655 | 23,535 | 25,215 | 34,025 | 37,195 | 20,950 | 35,170 | 36,800 | 68.1% | 69.0% | 70.0% | 72.3% | 69.2% | 70.0% | 45.3% | 55.7% | -12.4% |
| B (2, 3 | 7,825 | 6,455 | 7,275 | 8,375 | 10,955 | 6,575 | 32,015 | 17,475 | 20.8% | 18.9% | 20.2% | 17.8% | 20.4% | 22.0% | 41.2% | 26.5% | 5.7% | |
| C (4,5) | 1,985 | 1,945 | 1,865 | 2,975 | 3,980 | 1,600 | 7,875 | 8,995 | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 7.4% | 5.3% | 10.1% | 13.6% | 8.4% | |
| D (6,7) | 2,185 | 2,180 | 1,650 | 1,670 | 1,615 | 805 | 2,635 | 2,755 | 5.8% | 6.4% | 4.6% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 4.2% | -1.6% | |
| Total | 37,650 | 34,115 | 36,005 | 47,045 | 53,745 | 29,930 | 77,695 | 66,025 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Unfortunately, WordPress tables do not allow table formatting so if interested, will send the spreadsheets on request. Pdf below:
Multicultural Meanderings 