Canada to introduce new refugee pathway under Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

author avatar
Kareem El-Assal
Published: March 27, 2023

IRCC Minister Sean Fraser has announced Canada will introduce a new immigration pathway that aims to connect employers in Canada with skilled refugees and displaced persons.

The pathway will be available under the federal Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP).

The minister made the announcement during a speech today in Toronto (the video link is available below).

The IRCC website states the new pathway under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is set to launch this summer.

The EMPP exists to help employers hire skilled refugees and other displaced persons.

It pairs such individuals with Canadian employers who need to overcome labour shortages in key occupations.

The new pathway launching this summer will give employers more opportunities to address in-demand jobs such as nurse aids, personal support workers, long-term care aids, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, teachers, tourism and hospitality workers, and truck and delivery service drivers.

Over the next few years, Canada is looking to expand the EMPP and welcome 2,000 qualified refugees and displaced persons to fill labour shortages via the EMPP.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is looking to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents this year.

Under the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, this target is set to rise to 485,000 immigrants in 2024, and 500,000 immigrants in 2025.

Last year, Canada welcomed just over 437,000 immigrants.

Canada's record levels of immigration numbers, combined with record foreign student and worker admissions, resulted in the country's population growing by over one million people for the first time in history last year.

Canada's ambitious immigration targets are largely aimed at addressing the country's high number of labour shortages.

Canada offers more than 100 different economic class immigration pathways.

The leading economic class pathway is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which enables provinces and territories to identify candidates who meet their local economic needs.

The leading federal pathway is the Express Entry system.

Both pathways have been seeing a lot of activity recently.

Four provinces announced their latest PNP results over the past week.

Meanwhile, IRCC has held two major Express Entry draws over the past two weeks, inviting 14,000 candidates in total to apply for permanent residence.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
Express Entry competition eases as over 4,000 top-scoring profiles leave the pool
A group of people stare at the CN tower from across the lake.
IRCC’s backlog exceeds one million, Express Entry backlog swells
A large group of people walking on the street, heading in different directions.
Canada’s population contracts, driven by cuts to temporary resident programs
Snow on Queen Street in Toronto
Latest Express Entry draw sees CRS cut-off score drop below 400
The hot air balloon festival in Gatineau Quebec
Top Stories
Express Entry competition eases as over 4,000 top-scoring profiles leave the pool
IRCC’s backlog exceeds one million, Express Entry backlog swells
Canada’s population contracts, driven by cuts to temporary resident programs
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Canada
IRCC’s backlog exceeds one million, Express Entry backlog swells
A large group of people walking on the street, heading in different directions.
Canada’s population contracts, driven by cuts to temporary resident programs
Snow on Queen Street in Toronto
Arrivals under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program sink to two-year low
A group of people at the Toronto pier.
These are the types of candidates IRCC is focusing on in 2026
Multicultural group of people in diverse professions
Link copied to clipboard