The town of Claresholm has revealed its priority sectors and occupations for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP).
The town is located in southern Alberta, and it’s participating in the RCIP with a 25 kilometres boundary that includes the hamlet of Granum and the town of Stavely.
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The RCIP is an employer-driven pilot. That means foreign nationals need a job offer from a designated employer in the community — and an endorsement from said community — to be eligible for permanent residence (PR).
Every community participating in the RCIP is allowed to nominate five priority sectors.
Claresholm’s priority sectors and occupations
| Sector | Occupation Title | NOC Code |
| Agriculture | Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators | 84120 |
| Health Care | Cooks | 63200 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 32101 | |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | |
| Law & Education | Administrative Officers | 13100 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | |
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | |
| Manufacturing & Utilities | Administrative Assistants | 13110 |
| Aerospace Engineers | 21390 | |
| Aircraft Assemblers and Aircraft Assembly Inspectors | 93200 | |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 | |
| Aircraft Mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | |
| Carpenters | 72310 | |
| Concrete Finishers | 73100 | |
| Construction Trades Helpers and labourers | 75110 | |
| Crane Operators | 72500 | |
| Engineering Managers | 20010 | |
| Ironworkers | 72105 | |
| Labourers in food and beverage processing | 95106 | |
| Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing | 94140 | |
| Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale | 65202 | |
| Sales & Services | Chefs | 62200 |
| Food Service Supervisors | 62020 |
Claresholm has been allocated 30 slots in total for 2025. To manage demand, three slots will be distributed each month, with any remaining slots allocated toward the end of the year.
The community has also capped allocations going to the Sales and Service industry at five for the year.
Significance of the priority sectors and occupations
To be eligible for the RCIP, foreign nationals must have a job offer in a listed occupation from one of the designated employers in the community.
Only employers within priority sectors can get designated.
This means that foreign nationals interested in this PR pathway will need to get an eligible job offer from a designated business, or from an employer in the priority sectors and occupations that meet designation requirements (and then gets designated).
Beyond this, the foreign national has to meet other criteria regarding work experience, language proficiency, educational qualifications, and settlement funds.
About the RCIP
The RCIP is a five-year pilot program launched by the federal government in 2025 to help employers in rural communities meet labour market needs.
Canada regularly runs immigration pilots to address regional or occupational labour shortages and encourage growth in specific sectors or areas. If successful, these initiatives could become permanent in the future.
As of time of writing, a number communities participating in the RCIP and FCIP have revealed their priority sectors. These are:
- Timmins;
- Brandon;
- Sault Ste. Marie;
- Thunder Bay;
- North Okanagan-Shuswap; and
- North Bay.
A total of 14 communities are participating in the RCIP. Others are expected to reveal their priority sectors, occupations, and designated employers in the coming months.
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