BC PNP Continues to Exclude 31 Occupations from Invitations to Apply
On March 30, 2020, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) temporarily suspended issuing invitations to apply (ITA) for individuals in 31 tourism, hospitality, retail and personal services occupations. This temporary measure is in response to widespread unemployment in these sectors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that these occupations will be excluded from ITAs for the remainder of 2020. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the B.C. labour market with each BC PNP draw and will review sooner if warranted by economic circumstances.
The BC PNP is intended to address gaps in the labour market. We will not nominate any BC PNP applicants if it adversely impacts employment opportunities for British Columbians. We will however, continue to focus nominations on occupations that have labour shortages despite COVID-19.
The 2019 B.C. Labour Market Outlook suggests that there is a long-term need for workers in tourism, hospitality and retail industries. At the same time, employment in these sectors is projected to drop 70 percent in 2020, which means there is currently sufficient domestic labour supply as B.C. continues with its recovery plan.
The occupations excluded from invitations to apply are, by National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:
0621 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
0631 – Restaurant and food service managers
0632 – Accommodation service managers
0651 – Managers in customer and personal services, n.e.c.
3236 – Massage therapists
6211 – Retail sales supervisors
6311 – Food service supervisors
6313 – Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors
6321 – Chefs
6322 – Cooks
6341 – Hairstylists and barbers
6421 – Retail salespersons
6511 – Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses
6512 – Bartenders
6513 – Food and beverage servers
6521 – Travel counsellors
6522 – Pursers and flight attendants
6523 – Airline ticket and service agents
6524 – Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks
6525 – Hotel and front desk clerks
6531 – Tour and travel guides
6532 – Outdoor sport and recreational guides
6533 – Casino occupations
6562 – Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
6564 – Other personal service occupations
6611 – Cashiers
6621 – Service station attendants
6711 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
6721 – Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities
6722 – Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport
6731 – Light duty cleaners
Information about extending a work permit is available on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website.
Source: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/b-c-provincial-nominee-program/news