Alberta increases immigration targets to fill 100,000 jobs!

Surya Rathee
[Published 27 Feb, 2023 | 05:14 AM]
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With Alberta’s booming economy and over 100,000 job vacancies to fill – the province is in need of more skilled workers.

Alberta has long been demanding the federal government for an increase in the number of immigrants it can accept each year. With the immigration target finally increased, Alberta can now continue its economic momentum and meet the drastic labor shortages. A win-win situation for both the economy and immigrants that will help fill jobs in key sectors throughout the province.

Updated immigration targets to help labor shortage

Alberta has learned that its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), will now be able to issue a total of 9,750 nominations in 2023, 10,140 nominations in 2024, and 10,849 nominations in 2025. A massive increase from the 6,500 nominations allocated in 2022.

"Alberta needs more immigrants. We need them to help grow our communities, address labour shortages in key sectors and help continue Alberta’s economic success. I have lobbied the federal government for many months to receive an increase in Alberta’s nomination numbers, and I am pleased to see that they have listened to my request."

- Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism

(Rajiv Arora, CEO Nationwide Visas with Rajan Sawhney)

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) provides immigrants in all sectors and at all skill levels, including international graduates, entrepreneurs, and temporary foreign workers – with a variety of pathways to apply for Canada PR. 

Two of AAIP’s most popular streams, the Rural Renewal and Rural Entrepreneur stream - will help boost the local economies by attracting immigrants to the rural parts of the province in 2023. These streams will ensure that skilled newcomers can thrive & prosper outside of Alberta’s cities and fill available positions in rural Alberta.

Immigrating to Alberta in 2023

Since October 2022, Alberta has opened up numerous new pathways and established priority processing mechanisms in an effort to attract more skilled immigrants.

While 120,000 new jobs were added by Alberta since the start of 2021, there are still about 74,140 positions currently available in the province. Furthermore, the province expects a shortage of 33,100 workers by 2025 across many occupations, skill levels, and sectors.

Immigrants play a key role in addressing the labor shortages by creating jobs, diversifying the economy, and strengthening the workforce across all sectors in the province. They are expected to bring new skills and experience that will help facilitate major industries such as Healthcare, Construction, Technology, Agriculture, Tourism, among others.

Alberta’s increased immigration intake targets will continue the province’s economic momentum for the coming years.