Asheesh MoosapetaFont StyleFont SizeOn December 22nd, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) expanded the list of eligible occupations in the Global Talent Stream (GTS).Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law FirmESDC is a government department that works to support Canada’s labour force, and so has oversight over many immigration matters—including issuance of Labour Market Internal Assessments (LMIAs) and oversight of the GTS; a work permit program with expedited processing created to help Canadian employers hire foreign skilled workers in the technology sector.Under the GTS, employers looking to hire a foreign skilled worker for one of 17 in-demand professions (included due to insufficient labour supply in Canada) can apply and receive a work permit. The GTS looks to establish a service standard of two weeks for work permits.Previously at 12 positions, the list of eligible occupations has now expanded to 17 with the addition of five engineering roles.These are:The list of eligible occupations for the GTS changes according to Canada’s labour market needs; the inclusion of these five new positions is likely telling of an internal need for engineering labour in Canada.This year has also seen a growing trend of targeting specific professions for immigration, to more directly address Canada’s labor market needs.Among these measures include:As Canada continues to face high labour shortages and a growing class of retirees, in a post-COVID world, it seems likely the country will continue to address its economic requirements in a much more targeted way; as Canada has already identified immigration as the means by which to fulfill in-demand labour needs.Employers hiring foreign talent through the GTS will need to ensure they properly prepare applications; including developing a Labour Markets Benefit Plan (LMBP) to demonstrate their commitment to activities that have a lasting, positive impact on the Canadian labour market. An immigration lawyer can greatly complement application preparation here, to ensure completeness and compliance with program standards.Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.Tags:Stay up to date with the latest news on Canadian Immigration.By Asheesh MoosapetaBy Edana RobitailleBy Vimal SivakumarBy Julia Hornstein© CIC News