This week, Manitoba extended new invitations to foreign skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination. The selected candidates were invited through a strategic recruitment initiative, targeting individuals with professional experience in high-demand occupations aligned with the province’s labour market needs.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program Updates: (March 30–April 5)
On April 3, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted a draw under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream.
This draw specifically targeted individuals who had received direct invitations from the MPNP through a strategic recruitment initiative.
A total of four Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued, with the lowest-ranked candidate having a score of 721.
Notably, none of the invited candidates in this round declared a valid Express Entry profile number or job seeker validation code.
Future-Ready Workforce: Manitoba’s Strategic Recruitment Blueprint
Strategic recruitment initiatives are a key component of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), designed to support employers in addressing labour shortages by connecting them with skilled international workers.
These initiatives are specifically tailored for Manitoba employers who can demonstrate an immediate and sustained need for qualified workers that cannot be met through the local labour market.
To participate, employers must first meet specific eligibility requirements for the positions they intend to fill and complete the ABC Recruitment Process—an approach comparable to applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Once approved, employers can nominate and submit the profiles of international candidates who align with MPNP program criteria.
Referred candidates must meet the eligibility requirements under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream. In addition, they must:
- Demonstrate a genuine intent and ability to settle in Manitoba;
- Hold a full-time, permanent, or long-term job offer from an eligible Manitoba employer.
Further candidate requirements include:
- Being between 21 and 45 years of age (exceptions may apply if requested by the employer);
- Possessing post-secondary education relevant to the occupation, unless on-the-job training is deemed acceptable for specific pilots;
- Having at least two years of full-time, relevant work experience within the past five years.
Candidates must demonstrate language proficiency as follows:
- For occupations classified under TEER* levels 0 to 3: a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in all skill areas.
- For occupations classified under TEER levels 4 and 5: a minimum of CLB level 4 in all skill areas.
Preference is given to candidates who intend to reside outside the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. Candidates with strong connections to other provinces—such as previous work experience or education—may be assessed as a potential retention risk and could be deemed ineligible.
- TEER 0 includes highly skilled, managerial-level occupations.
- TEER levels 1 through 5 represent progressively lower training and educational requirements, with TEER 1 typically requiring a university degree, and TEER 5 involving minimal formal training.
Note:
TEER refers to the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities classification under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system. It evaluates the skill level required for a given occupation based on four criteria:
