Maple News reports that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has successfully allocated all 21,500 federal nominations for 2024, underscoring the program’s growing significance in meeting Ontario’s labour market needs. Operated jointly by the provincial and federal governments, the OINP enables Ontario to select skilled immigrants who align with the province’s economic priorities.
This year’s allocations indicate a strategic focus on sectors facing acute labour shortages, particularly healthcare and technology. These fields have been under persistent strain, and the nominations are designed to deliver long-term solutions by attracting experienced talent from abroad.
The distribution of nominations across various streams reveals Ontario’s targeted approach. The largest share—6,330 nominations—went to candidates under the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream, which prioritizes skilled professionals aligned with Ontario’s workforce demands. Another 4,101 nominations were allocated through the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream, supporting the province’s construction, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.
Graduate-focused streams also saw significant activity. The Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams accounted for 3,810 and 446 nominations respectively, reflecting Ontario’s ongoing commitment to retaining international students trained within the province. Employer job offer streams remained vital as well, including 3,283 nominations to international student graduates with job offers, and 2,731 to foreign workers.
The healthcare sector, a critical focus area, benefitted from nominations across multiple streams, targeting roles such as general practitioners, family physicians, and nurses. The province continues to conduct targeted draws to address persistent staffing gaps in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community healthcare centers.
Technology professionals also featured prominently among 2024 nominees. Ontario regularly conducts tech draws to recruit software engineers, data scientists, and IT professionals, aiming to strengthen the province’s growing tech ecosystem.
Francophone immigration remained a priority as well, with 300 French-speaking skilled workers nominated through targeted Express Entry draws, supporting Ontario’s commitment to bilingualism and regional integration.
The Entrepreneur stream saw 91 nominations, signaling Ontario’s interest in attracting innovative business minds to create jobs and stimulate economic activity across the province.
As immigration continues to play a pivotal role in Ontario’s population and economic growth, the OINP remains a vital mechanism for connecting skilled newcomers with critical needs in the province. With workforce imbalances still present in key sectors, the OINP’s 2024 performance highlights both its agility and its long-term relevance.