Top Employers Hiring for Canada Express Entry Jobs (2024)

Top Canadian Employers Hiring for Jobs Eligible for Express Entry Category-Based Draws

Looking to build a long-term future in Canada? If you’re an international worker eyeing permanent residence through the Express Entry system, landing a job that’s eligible for category-based selection can significantly boost your chances. The good news? Many of Canada’s top employers are hiring for exactly those kinds of roles!

Key Highlights

• Category-based Express Entry draws prioritize specific occupations in high-demand fields like healthcare, trades, and STEM.
• Top Canadian employers such as Google, Microsoft, and Tesla are actively hiring for eligible roles.
• Public sector organizations must prioritize Canadian citizens and PRs, adding a layer of complexity for foreign applicants.
• To qualify for category-based draws, you need 6 months of continuous full-time work experience in an eligible NOC occupation within the past 3 years.
• 2025 priority Express Entry categories include healthcare, trades, education, and French-language proficiency.
• Meeting both category-specific and general Express Entry eligibility criteria is essential for receiving an invitation to apply (ITA).

Why Category-Based Express Entry Matters

In Canada’s evolving immigration landscape, category-based draws under the Express Entry system are a game-changer. They allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to issue invitations to candidates with experience in specific, in-demand occupations. If you’ve got experience in one of these roles—and meet all the other criteria—you’re more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

That’s why aligning your job search with these eligible roles isn’t just smart—it’s strategic. Whether you’re already working in Canada on an open work permit or applying from abroad, focusing on category-eligible positions can fast-track your journey to Canadian permanent residency.

Top Employers Hiring for Express Entry Eligible Jobs

Based on the latest Forbes rankings, here are some of Canada’s leading employers currently hiring for roles that align with Express Entry’s category-based selections:

1. Google

Location: Toronto, Montreal, and remote options

Eligible Role: Cybersecurity Specialist (NOC 21220)

Google, ranked #1 on Forbes’ list of top Canadian employers, offers tech professionals the opportunity to work in cutting-edge roles. Their cybersecurity positions are a great fit for Express Entry’s STEM category.

2. Microsoft

Locations: Across major Canadian cities

Eligible Roles:

• Cybersecurity Specialists (NOC 21220)
• Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NOC 21310)
• Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 22310)

Microsoft offers various remote and in-office opportunities, allowing skilled workers to gain valuable Canadian experience in high-demand fields.

3. The Hershey Company

Locations: Ontario and Quebec

Eligible Role: Industrial Electricians (NOC 72201)

If your background is in electrical trades, Hershey’s Canadian operations could be a sweet entry point into a PR pathway.

4. Parks Canada (Public Sector)

Eligible Roles:

• Carpenters (NOC 72310)
• Electricians (NOC 72200)
• Painters and Decorators (NOC 73112)
• Water Well Drillers (NOC 72501)
• Welders and Machine Operators (NOC 72106)

As a government agency, Parks Canada prioritizes Canadian citizens and permanent residents for hiring, but these roles are ideal for gaining relevant experience if you’re already in Canada.

5. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Public Sector)

Eligible Roles:

• Civil Engineers (NOC 21300)
• Cooks (NOC 63200)
• Mechanical Engineers (NOC 21301)

Another public sector employer with roles in both STEM and trades categories, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has offices throughout the country.

6. BC Hydro (Public Sector)

Eligible Roles:

• Civil Engineers (NOC 21300)
• Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 22300)
• Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NOC 21310)

BC Hydro powers much of the province and offers great engineering opportunities that align with STEM category draws.

7. OpenText

Location: Waterloo, Ontario

Eligible Role: Cybersecurity Specialists (NOC 21220)

As Canada’s fourth-largest software company, OpenText is a great option for tech professionals targeting the STEM stream.

8. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Eligible Roles:

• Nurse Practitioners (NOC 31302)
• Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
• Therapists (NOC 41301)

If you work in healthcare, CHEO offers several eligible roles that fall under Express Entry’s healthcare and social services category.

9. The Co-operators

Eligible Role: Insurance Agents and Brokers (NOC 63100)

This financial services provider operates across Canada and offers solid roles ideal for those targeting Express Entry through STEM occupations.

10. Tesla

Eligible Roles:

• Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NOC 21310)
• Mechanical Engineers (NOC 21301)
• Engineering Technicians (NOC 22301)

With Canadian offices in Ontario, Quebec, and BC, Tesla offers engineering roles well-matched to STEM-based draws.

11. Fortis

Eligible Roles:

• Mechanical Engineers (NOC 21301)
• Industrial Electricians (NOC 72201)
• Manufacturing Engineers (NOC 21321)

Based in Newfoundland and Labrador, Fortis has operations throughout North America and offers multiple trades and engineering positions.

12. Agnico Eagle

Eligible Roles:

• Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics (NOC 72400)
• Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics (NOC 72401)

This Ontario-based mining company has projects across Canada and provides trades workers with valuable experience for Express Entry eligibility.

Recent CRS Cut-Off Scores for Category-Based Draws

2025 Express Entry Priority Categories

IRCC has confirmed that the following categories will be prioritized for 2025:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and social services
• Trades occupations
• Education-related occupations

If your work experience falls into one of these areas, now’s the time to update your Express Entry profile and start targeting job openings in those fields.

How to Qualify for Category-Based Draws

Occupational Requirements

To be eligible for a category-based draw, you must have:

• At least 6 months of continuous work experience in a single eligible NOC code within the last 3 years
• Experience can be full-time or the part-time equivalent
• Experience doesn’t have to be Canadian—it can be international

Express Entry Program Eligibility

In addition to meeting the category-specific requirements, you also need to qualify under one of the three Express Entry programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)