British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program prioritizes Construction Industry Workers

On November 16^th 2023, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) announced a new priority stream for the construction industry. It was created in reaction to the Homes for People action plan, which aims to meet BC’s demand for residential housing and infrastructure over the next five years. This new stream is meant to ensure construction workers nominated by the BC PNP are ready to contribute immediately to BC’s labour market.

Through the BC PNP priority stream, 25 designated construction occupations will be prioritized and targeted invitations to apply will be issued to workers in these select construction occupations.

To be eligible for this stream an applicant must have:

• an indeterminate, full-time job offer in one of the priority construction occupations listed below;
• a valid trade certificate issued by, or an apprenticeship registered with SkilledTradesBC; and
• if they hold a trade certificate, it must correspond with the job being offered.

Priority Construction Occupation List

22114 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists 
72102 Sheet metal workers
72103 Boilermakers
72104 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105 Ironworkers
72106 Welders and related machine operators
72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 Industrial electricians
72300 Plumbers
72301 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302 Gas fitters
72310 Carpenters
72311 Cabinetmakers
72320 Bricklayers
72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72500 Crane operators
73100 Concrete finishers
73101 Tilesetters
73102 Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
73110 Roofers and shinglers
73111 Glaziers
73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113 Floor covering installers

Eligible candidates can create a profile in their respective stream via the BC PNP online portal. For employers and foreign nationals interested in this priority construction occupation stream, please contact us for more information.