Canada is struggling to find enough skilled workers, such as tradespeople and AI experts. This makes a great year for people from other countries who want to move to Canada and start a career. If you have the right credentials or trade skills, Canada could be a great place for you to find a new job. There are a lot of immigrant programs that focus on careers. These programs are aimed at key industries like healthcare, technology, AI, and skilled trades.
This piece gives a thorough look at these new Canadian industries that are having trouble finding workers with the right skills. It also gives useful tips on how to make the most of these chances in 2024 so that you can move to Canada in 2025.
List of Canadian AI and Skill Worker Jobs With Salaries:
AI Jobs in Canada
If you are an international AI worker who wants to move to Canada, you need to know about the job market, average salaries, and qualifications needed. Here are some facts about different AI jobs in Canada, including how much they pay, how popular they are, and what skills you need to get them.
Machine Learning Engineer
- Average Salary: CAD 80,000 to CAD 120,000 annually
- Qualifications: You need a degree in computer science or a related area, to be able to use Python and machine learning libraries like TensorFlow or PyTorch. You should also know how to work with algorithms and data structures.
Data Scientist
- Average Salary: CAD 70,000 to CAD 110,000 annually
- Qualifications: You should have a degree in computer science, statistics, or math, and know how to use statistical analysis tools like R or Python and data display tools like Tableau or PowerBI.
AI Research Scientist
- Average Salary: CAD 90,000 to CAD 150,000 annually
- Qualifications: Have a PhD in AI, Machine Learning, or a similar field; have published work in AI journals that are reviewed by other AI experts; know a lot about AI algorithms.
NLP Engineer
- Average Salary: CAD 80,000 to CAD 125,000 annually
- Qualifications: You should have a degree in computer science, linguistics, or a related area, and you should know how to use NLP tools and libraries like NLTK or SpaCy and be good at programming languages like Python.
Computer Vision Engineer
- Average Salary: CAD 85,000 to CAD 130,000 annually
- Qualifications: You need a degree in computer science or a related area, experience with image recognition technologies and libraries like OpenCV, and strong math skills, especially in probability and linear algebra.
AI Ethics & Governance Officer
- Average Salary: CAD 90,000 to CAD 140,000 annually
- Qualifications: You should have a degree in law, ethics, computer science, or a related area, and you should know about ethical issues in AI and how regulations work. You should also have experience making AI policies.
Skilled Trades in High Demand Across Canadian Provinces:
In Canada, the need for skilled tradespeople keeps growing in many areas because of new infrastructure projects and an aging workforce. Before I go into the details of the most sought-after jobs, their average salaries, and the skills needed to work in these fields in Canada, let me explain what a “red seal endorsement” means:
In Canada, the “Red Seal” recommendation is a standard for people who work in skilled trades. It means that a tradesperson has met the national standard in that trade. This makes it easier for them to move between provinces and regions without having to take more tests or get more certification. Now, let’s look at a list of high-demand jobs in the Canadian provinces in 2024, along with their average salaries, the skills needed, and whether they have a red seal endorsement.
Electricians
- Average Salary: CAD 50,000 to CAD 100,000+ annually
- Qualifications: Finishing an apprenticeship (which usually takes four to five years), getting a provincial trade certificate, and getting a “Red Seal” recommendation that lets them move between provinces. Industrial or construction electricians may need extra licenses in some areas.
Plumbers
- Average Salary: CAD 50,000 to CAD 100,000+ annually
- Qualifications: You need to do an apprenticeship and get a state trade certificate. For plumbers, the “Red Seal” endorsement is also very valuable because it makes it easier to work in different areas.
Welders
- Average Salary: CAD 45,000 to CAD 90,000+ annually
- Qualifications: After getting technical training or an apprenticeship, you will need to get a state certificate. Specializations, like underwater soldering, can help you make a lot more money.
Carpenters
- Average Salary: CAD 45,000 to CAD 90,000+ annually
- Qualifications: Getting a provincial skill certification and finishing an apprenticeship. Anywhere in Canada, a carpenter with a “Red Seal” recommendation can work.
Heavy Equipment Operators
- Average Salary: CAD 50,000 to CAD 100,000+ annually
- Qualifications: You need to have done an apprenticeship or professional training, and you usually need a provincial certification. Specializing in things like refrigerators can help you get better jobs and make more money.
HVAC Technicians (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
- Average Salary: CAD 45,000 to CAD 80,000+ annually
- Qualifications: There needs to be an apprenticeship or skilled training, and often a provincial certification is needed. Specialization in areas like cooling can help you get better jobs and make more money.
Read Also: Canadian Recruitment Agencies Providing Visa Sponsorship
Med Industry Skill Shortages in Canada:
There is always a need for nurses, doctors, medical technicians, and other healthcare workers, especially in rural and remote places. Here is a list of Canada’s most-wanted healthcare jobs, along with their usual salaries and required skills. It’s important to keep in mind that demand and wages can be different in different areas.
High-Demand Healthcare Professions in Canada:
Nurses (Various specializations):
- Salary: $60,000 – CAD 100,000+ annually (depending on experience and specialization)
- Qualifications: You need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and to be registered with the Provincial College of Nursing as an RN, RPN, or psychiatric nurse.
Medical Laboratory Technologists:
- Salary: $50,000 – $85,000 annually
- Qualifications: A medical laboratory technology diploma or degree, as well as licensing from the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS).
Radiologic Technologists:
- Salary: $60,000 – $90,000 annually
- Qualifications: A certificate or degree in radiologic technology. The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) has given them certification.
Personal Support Workers (PSWs):
- Salary: $35,000 – $60,000 annually
- Qualifications: Different in each region, but usually a program to get a certificate and registration with a government body.
Physicians (Especially family doctors and specialists in rural areas):
- Salary: Wide range based on specialty (CAD 200,000+ annually), but in high demand.
- Qualifications: A medical degree (MD), training, and a license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the province are all required.
Dietitians:
- Salary: $55,000 -$85,000 annually
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and registration with the dietitian regulatory body in their province.
Occupational Therapists:
- Salary: $60,000 – $90,000+ annually
- Qualifications: Master’s degree in occupational therapy and registration with the licensing college for the province.
Less Commonly Mentioned but Still In-Demand:
- Dental Hygienists
- Pharmacists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Mental Health Professionals (psychologists, social workers)
How to Find These Skill Shortage Jobs in Canada in 2024?
It’s important to know where to look for information on jobs that are in demand, whether you want to move to Canada or change careers there. Here is a list of the best places to look for jobs in Canada that need people with certain skills:
- Trend Analysis: This tool gives accurate predictions about the job market for many different jobs. To find out about present and future shortages, you can search by job title or NOC code. Visit Job Bank Trend Analysis
- Job Match: You can use this tool to find open jobs all over Canada and narrow your search by occupation and location. You can see right away who is hiring in your field. Search on Job Bank
- Provincial Government Websites: Because of their own economies, each Canadian state may have different needs. A lot of the time, provincial websites keep lists of jobs that people want up to date and have tools just for skilled immigrants.
- ICTC: This council is all about digital skills and gives thorough reports and insights on the job market that can help tech companies find skill gaps and open positions.
Roadmap to Apply for Canadian Jobs to Seek Immigration:
- Skill Assessment and Certification: Look at your abilities and skills and see how they fit with what Canada needs. Getting a Red Seal endorsement is very important for trades, while some tech jobs may need specific computer skills or certifications.
- Improve Language Proficiency: You must be able to speak English or French well. You might want to take a language test like the IELTS or the TEF because you may need them for immigration or a work license.
- Research and Networking: The Canadian government’s Job Bank is a good place to start to learn about job markets. You can also use networking sites like LinkedIn to get in touch with possible employers. Go to webinars and conferences in your area to meet other people in the same line of work and learn more about it in Canada.
- Immigration Programs, like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Provincial Nominee Programs, and the Global Talent Stream. These programs are meant to help skilled workers come to the U.S. based on their professional skills and the needs of the job market.
- Continued Education: If you need to meet certain job standards or want to improve your chances of getting a job, you might want to get more education or a certification in Canada. Having a Canadian academic degree on your resume or CV can help your job chances a lot.
Aim for Your Canadian Immigration in 2025 – Start Preps Now!
Start working on your application early, focused on getting the documents you need, getting better at language, and getting the certifications or tests you need for your job. As your planned immigration date gets closer, keep an eye on how immigration laws and the job market need to change to make sure you keep your skills up to date.
Canada’s policy of accepting skilled immigrants and the current lack of workers make it a good place for people from other countries to look for work. You can improve your chances of getting into Canada and advancing your work thereby planning how to match your skills and qualifications with what the Canadian job market needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Is Canada good for artificial intelligence?
Several prestigious Canadian universities are at the forefront of AI education, providing comprehensive programs tailored to the evolving needs of this rapidly advancing field. Here are some of the top institutions offering graduate-level AI programs in Canada: The University of Waterloo. York University.
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What is the salary of an AI engineer in Canada?
The average salary for an AI engineer is $99,534 per year in Canada. The average additional cash compensation for an AI engineer in Canada is $5,187, with a range from $2,113 to $12,732. Salary estimates are based on 32 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by AI Engineer employees in Canada.
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Is Canada a leader in AI?
Canada ranks first globally for year-over-year growth of women in AI (67 percent growth in 2022–23 alone), first in the G7 for year-over-year growth of AI talent, and since 2019, has ranked first in the G7 for the number of AI-related papers published per capita.