Work as a Welder in Canada in 2023

Canada is currently experiencing seismic shifts in its labor market. The number of high-skilled workers, especially in the tech industry, who have been immigrating to Canada has been increasing year on year, a consequence of the high value placed on the specialized skills required to work in information technology (IT).

However, low-skilled menial labor jobs, which are highly essential and lie at the opposite end of the spectrum of the tech industry, have continually suffered from labor shortages for the past decade or so.

Trade jobs in particular have had a difficult time being filled in with local Canadian talent, with Canada having among the highest percentage of tertiary educated individuals in the world, leading to plummeting levels of individuals going to trade schools.

The aging population has also depleted the pool of existing practitioners who could be able to transfer their skills and knowledge of their trade occupations to the younger generation via learnerships and apprenticeships.

Canadian consumers and businesses that are in need of the services provided by these trade jobs have turned to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to provide them with the aid to hire foreign workers that are skilled in trade jobs.

The IRCC has a veritable list of immigration visa programs and streams that cater to prospective immigrants who can provide Canada with the skilled trade workers it needs to sustain its essential services provision.

If you’re a welder, this presents the perfect opportunity for you to leverage this skilled trades gap in the Canadian labor market to immigrate to Canada.

The Express Entry system has Federal Economic Immigration Programs such as the Federal Skilled Workers program, Federal Skilled Trades program and Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee programs have extensive lists of in-demand jobs in which posts for welders feature prominently.

However, if you’re not eligible to apply for permanent residency using either the Express Entry system or Provincial Nominee program, you can use Canada's work permit programs. Work permits allow immigrants who possess the requisite and desired skills to move to Canada for work for a specified period of time.

Having a work permit allows foreign workers entry into the Canadian workplace and provides them with valuable experience that they can leverage the opportunity to immigrate to Canada by using the Canadian Experience Class.

Alternatively, Family sponsorships allow individuals who immigrated to Canada either for work or other purposes to bring their families with them to Canada through sponsorship programs. And to address specific labor market needs within a specific region/province or sector of industry, the IRCC introduced immigration pilot programs.

Working as a Welder in Canada in 2023

Welding, which predominantly involves the ability to wield and bend metal in different ways, is one of the most valued occupational trades in the world. Metal substances are some of the most commonly utilized structural materials in the world, weather in architecture, art, construction etc.

Welders are a very important source of labor in perpetuating the success of industrious nations that use metal as a base substance. Canada, with its booming industries in tech and construction industries has a high demand for skilled workers with experience in the welding industry.

Therefore, recognizing that it competes internationally with other high profile immigrant destination countries for this highly valued skilled immigrant pool of jobs, it has placed a premium on recruiting welders to Canada.

To this end, the average wage/salary for workers in Canada is among the highest in the world. So take the opportunity to explore the following options and ways to immigrate to Canada so you can apply to and leverage the opportunity to be a Canadian welder in 2022.

Best Ways to Immigrate to Canada as a Welder in 2023

The following programs represent some of the best ways to apply to immigrate to Canada to work as a welder in Canada.

Express Entry

The Express Entry system was started in 2015 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which is a division of the government of Canada which handles all Canadian immigration as a means of enabling skilled foreign workers and their families to become permanent residents in Canada as quickly as possible.

Express Entry processing times can be as little as six months, a measure implemented by the IRCC because the Canadian economy desperately needs skilled workers in a multitude of occupations and industries throughout Canada.

The Government of Canada is currently on track to meet its annual target of welcoming 500,000 immigrants with a permanent residency by the end of 2023. A significant portion of these was the consequence of applications coming through the Express Entry system.

To gain permanent residency in Canada via Express Entry, applicants must create an Express Entry profile. To make this profile, they need to take an eligibility test based on the following demographic criteria:

• Age
• Education
• Language Skills
• Work experience
• Marital Status
• Links to Canada

Depending on the answers you give for each of these eligibility criteria a score will be generated for you through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This score is out of 1200 and is calculated based on the above factors, as well as:

• Skills Transferability
• French Language Skills
• If any of their post-secondary education was in Canada
• If they have a Canadian job offer
• If they have a Provincial Nomination

When your score is determined, you can enter an Express Entry pool. Every two weeks, there is an Express Entry draw where all applicants with a score higher than a certain number are presented with an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.

The minimum requirements change with each draw, depending on the size and strength of the Express Entry pool at the time of the interest.

Federal Skilled Trades Program, CEC

This program is specifically for skilled trades people with a recognized diploma or certified job-specific training. If you want to apply for FSTP, the first step is to check if you qualify as a skilled trade worker according to the federal government. In addition, you will also need to have a valid job offer/certificate of qualification in order to be considered eligible.

Achieving an Invitation to Apply ITA from the Express Entry system is your ultimate goal to be considered for permanent residence in every province of Canada (apart from Québec) and with the exception of receiving a provincial nomination from a Canadian province or territory. Then you need to settle in the province/territory that endorsed you.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Canadian Experience Class is a program specifically for skilled workers living and working in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months via a study permit, work permit or Working Holiday Visa. If you’ve been in Canada for that time and feel you would be eligible for the CEC, look at this page for a full breakdown.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada aims to welcome up to 86,000 newcomers through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in 2023. There are around 80 provincial nomination pathways under 11 main provincial nominee programs in Canada that allow participating provinces and territories to nominate eligible economic immigration candidates for Canadian permanent residence. Learn more about the different Provincial Nominee Program types for exciting alternative routes to Canada.

The Canadian government has an agreement with provinces in which they can nominate immigrants who wish to live, settle, and work in that particular province or essentially, immigrate to Canada.

If you want to receive the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), the candidate is required to choose a province they wish to live in and subsequently apply for a nomination.

The province will consider the application based on its immigration and labor needs while assessing your genuine intention to settle in the province.

In most provinces, Canadian immigration is an important part of boosting local economies and development in key sectors but also supporting an aging population.

If you decide to apply for permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under the Canadian immigration system, there are two main options you can choose from:

• Apply directly to a province or territory
• The Express Entry-linked process

Applying for a provincial nomination directly to your chosen province means that you will have to submit a paper application via mail or courier. This is a long process and can take from 15 to 19 months to determine whether your application has been successful. As a welder, this application method presents a high opportunity for success since a lot of Canadian provinces require the services of more welders.

Work Permit

If you get a job offer in Canada as a foreign national, take it as an opportunity that you cannot refuse because it can be a very beneficial move for your career and improve you and your family’s quality of life.

There are generally two main types of work permits, under which there is also a category of work visas. You must be in possession of a work permit and work visa to immigrate to Canada for work purposes. The two work permits include:

Open Work Permit

An open work permit is not a job-specific option, which means that you can work for any Canadian employer. It exempts you from requiring a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to qualify for a Canadian work visa.

Eligible foreign nationals that want to work in Canada in their preferred occupation and for the employer of their choice.

Employer-Specific Work Permit

This work permit allows foreign nationals to work for a specific employer in Canada, as outlined within the conditions and limitations detailed in the work permit.

This work permit limits a foreign national to one employer at a specific location, with a duration of employment, whom they are authorized to work for and comply with. It requires a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This work permit is for prospective immigrants that want to work for a specific employer in a set province and for a specified duration.

Find out more about how to work as a welder in Canada.

Pilot Programs

Immigration pilots are limited-term programs that are designed with the purpose to address the needs of particular areas and communities in Canada. These pilot programs target unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled foreigners to address the labor market needs and shortages of Canadian provinces, with welders having high priority among labor market needs.

Immigration pilots are also designed to serve as a pathway to permanent residence for those who want to live and work permanently in Canada. A good example of a pilot program is the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The pilot did exceptionally well bridging the worker-to-retiree ratio, adding value to the Canadian economy; it later transitioned into a permanent program.

Family Sponsorships

Canada is a nation where family is essential. Canada understands that many immigrants don't want to leave their loved ones behind to come to Canada or, if they do, don't want to stay in Canada without their family and, as a result, make a plan to return home as soon as possible.

Canada loves immigrants because they’re vital for the growth of Canada's culture and economy, so as a welder you can trust that your desire to immigrate with your family will be prioritized.

To foster growth, the Canadian government created several family sponsorship immigration streams that enable Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family members and bring them to Canada as permanent residents.

Family sponsorship programs are divided into categories based on the relationship between the Canadian sponsor and sponsored family member. The categories include

• The Spouse/Partner Sponsorship Program
• The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program
• The Dependent Child Sponsorship Program
• The Adoption Sponsorship Program
• The Adopted Child Sponsorship Program
• The Other Relative Sponsorship Program, and
• The Canada Super Visa

How to Find Welding Jobs in Canada

Finding jobs in Canada as a foreigner can be a relatively difficult ordeal. Not only do you have to contend with the local pool of talent who’ll be prioritized but also foreigners from other countries who possess the same skills and work experience as you. This is why we recommend using the services of an RCIC affiliated immigration consultancy company like CanadaVisa, who will liaise on your behalf with the IRCC to ensure that they get you in touch with Canadian employers and businesses who best fit your work profile. 

Another alternative method of finding welding jobs is to use accredited and authoritative Canadian online job sites. Jobbank Canada, Indeed Canada, Robert Half, Rip Recruiter, Monster Canada, Linkedin and Grabjobs are the premier online job sites in Canada. As a prospective welder in Canada we recommend you patronize their services. 

How we can help you Move to Canada as a Welder in 2023

CanadianVisa makes use of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), who are experts on the different programs offered by the federal government, such as the Federal Skilled Trades Program, as well as changing policies surrounding immigration.

RCICs are your helping hand when it comes to creating your profile right up until you receive your ITA for permanent residence. RCICs can also advise you further about which immigration visa program to take and what you can improve on in your professional capacity.

FAQs

Which Province has the Highest Demand for Welders in Canada?

The two Canadian provinces generally considered to have the highest wage for welders are Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.

What is the Average Wage for Welders in Canada?

The median wage for welders in Canada is 26 $ per hour according to Jobbank Canada.

What is the Best City to Move to as a Welder in Canada?

Edmonton, Alberta is generally considered to be the city that pays the highest wages to welders.