Federal and provincial immigration officials are discussing major changes to the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. The PGWP is an open work permit for international students who complete an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
Key Points:
- Objective: Align PGWPs with labor market needs by facilitating work permits for students in high-demand occupations and reducing access for other graduates.
- Timeline: Recommendations will be provided by spring 2024, with changes expected to be implemented by January 2025.
- Survey: IRCC sent a survey to stakeholders, outlining how these changes might be implemented and requesting feedback.
How Will the New PGWP Restrictions Be Implemented?
IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are mapping job titles to programs of study. This process aligns Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system with the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system.
Example Mapping
| Occupation | Programs of Study |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | Construction Trades, Carpentry, Woodworking/General |
| Registered Nurse | Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN), Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing |
This extended mapping illustrates how IRCC and ESDC are working to align educational programs with labor market needs by linking specific programs of study to relevant occupations.
Why Are These Changes Being Pursued?
The goal is to address labor market needs by prioritizing work permits for students entering in-demand occupations. Since 2008, the PGWP program has seen a 214% increase in work permits issued, prompting a reevaluation to better match current economic demands.
Recent Developments
- International Student Cap: Announced in January 2024 to manage temporary resident levels and reduce stress on social systems like healthcare and housing.
- Temporary Resident Levels Plan: For the first time, IRCC included temporary resident levels in the annual Immigration Levels Plan.
Immigration Implications
The PGWP is crucial for international graduates to gain Canadian work experience, a key requirement for many permanent residence (PR) programs. Changes to the PGWP could affect current and future international students’ pathways to PR.
News Summary
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Objective | Align PGWPs with labor market needs |
| Timeline | Recommendations by Spring 2024; Changes by January 2025 |
| Survey Findings | Mapping NOC to CIP to align education with labor market demands |
| Recent Changes | International student cap, temporary resident levels in Immigration Plan |
| Implications | Potential impact on PR pathways for international graduates |
