Introduction: On November 16, 2022, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) transitioned from its National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2016 system to the updated NOC 2021 version. As part of this transition, IRCC expanded the list of occupations eligible for Express Entry to include 16 new occupations, among them transport truck drivers and bus drivers. This update addresses significant labor shortages in these critical sectors across Canada.
Canada’s School Bus Driver Shortage: Canada has long faced a shortage of school bus drivers in various regions. Contributing factors such as low wages and a wave of retirements during the pandemic have exacerbated the issue. Many communities struggle to provide reliable transportation for students. For instance, in October 2022, a school bus driver shortage in Montreal led to the cancellation of several bus routes. Similarly, a Yellowknife community faced cancellations in early 2023.
Transportation via school buses is vital for many children, with Transport Canada estimating that 2.2 million children travel to and from school on buses daily. Thus, labor shortages in this industry significantly impact the lives of young Canadians who depend on this transportation method.
Canada’s Truck Driver Shortage: The truck driving industry is crucial to maintaining the national supply chain. However, the industry faces a high number of vacancies — reported at 18,000 in Q2 2021, rising to 20,110 in Q2 2022 according to TruckingHR Canada. These shortages have a severe impact on the national economy, disrupting the flow of goods.
Issues such as safety concerns, high upfront training costs, work-life balance challenges, and retirements contribute to the industry's high turnover rate. TruckingHR Canada estimates that over 34,000 truck drivers will leave the industry annually, worsening the job vacancy rate, which was 9.1% among Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 2021: 73300) in Q2 2022.
Changes to Express Entry Aimed at Mitigating Labor Shortages in the Transportation Industry: To address these labor shortages, IRCC has added transport truck drivers and bus drivers to the list of occupations eligible for immigration via Express Entry. This move is part of broader changes to the Express Entry system aimed at attracting skilled workers to fill critical labor gaps.
The Canadian government hopes that expanding Express Entry eligibility and implementing targeted draws will encourage more skilled foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada. Targeted Express Entry draws, expected to start as early as Q2 2023, will allow IRCC to prioritize candidates based on specific attributes such as language skills, educational background, or work experience rather than just Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.
Other Immigration Options for Foreign Truck and Bus Drivers: Beyond Express Entry, foreign nationals looking to immigrate to Canada have several other pathways. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) operate in 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories (excluding Quebec and Nunavut) and allow regions to select foreign skilled workers to address local labor market needs.
Additionally, programs like the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) offer further opportunities. These programs enable regions to choose immigrants who can fill specific local labor shortages, including those in the trucking and busing industries.
Conclusion: By adding bus and truck drivers to the list of eligible occupations for Express Entry, IRCC aims to mitigate labor shortages in these vital sectors. This change, along with other targeted immigration initiatives, will help Canada attract the skilled workers needed to sustain and grow its economy. Prospective immigrants with experience in these fields now have a promising pathway to Canadian permanent residency and the opportunity to contribute significantly to the country's transportation infrastructure.
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