Maple News reports that on February 4, 2024, British Columbia conducted its first Skills Immigration draw of the year, issuing 429 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The draw focused on identifying candidates who demonstrate strong potential to contribute to the province’s economy, particularly through high-wage job offers or competitive registration scores.
Nearly half of the invitations—206 in total—were issued under the high-wage job offer stream. These candidates received offers for jobs categorized under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3, with a minimum hourly wage of $70 (approximately $145,000 annually).
The remaining 223 invitations were distributed based on the candidates’ BC PNP registration scores, with a minimum score requirement of 138 points. This stream serves as a merit-based selection method, allowing the province to prioritize top-ranked individuals from its registration pool.
British Columbia has signaled that future draws may rely on a broader range of selection factors. These may include educational background (level, field, and location of study), professional credentials, language ability, occupation, duration and level of work experience, and regional intent to settle in BC. The province may also prioritize candidates who support strategic goals or pilot programs addressing regional labor shortages.
As of January 6, 2024, the Skills Immigration registration pool had a total of 11,210 candidates. The majority of registered applicants fall within the 100–139 score range, with only a small number scoring above 150—the cut-off needed to be most competitive in high-demand draws.
The registration score distribution is as follows: only 9 candidates scored 150 or higher, while more than 2,000 candidates fall into each of the 100–109 and 90–99 ranges. This data allows registered applicants to assess their standing and competitiveness in future BC PNP draws.
This draw aligns with British Columbia’s broader immigration strategy to target workers who not only meet high-demand labor needs but are more likely to contribute significantly to the province’s economy and regional development priorities.
For skilled workers hoping to relocate to BC, aligning with provincial priorities and boosting registration scores can significantly improve their chances in upcoming draws.