Maple News reports that Canada has introduced a significant update to its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, expanding access to 920 non-degree educational programs, effective June 25, 2025. This move includes the addition of 119 new certificate and diploma fields while removing 178 that no longer align with national labour market priorities. The changes reflect Canada’s ongoing strategy to align international education pathways with long-term workforce needs.
The revised list prioritizes sectors facing chronic labour shortages. Newly eligible programs focus on health care (e.g., nursing, medical technology), education (e.g., early childhood education, special-needs assistance), and the skilled trades (e.g., welding, carpentry, HVAC). According to Maple News, these updates closely match the direction of Canada’s 2025 changes to the Express Entry immigration system, which now emphasizes candidates with experience in these in-demand sectors.
The overhaul stems from an earlier policy shift implemented on November 1, 2024, introducing a field-specific requirement for PGWP eligibility. This strategic pivot aims to channel international student talent into professions that are instrumental in Canada’s demographic and economic future.
Meanwhile, programs in general business administration, basic computing, and various transport-related fields have been removed from eligibility. These occupations were not retained on the updated Express Entry shortage list, indicating declining demand across those career paths under current projections.
Canada’s Express Entry system underwent its own transformation in March 2025, influencing the current PGWP list. Key adjustments include a stronger emphasis on Canadian work experience, a focus on French-language candidates, and redefined occupational categories. Notably, occupations targeted for category-based draws in Express Entry—such as registered nurses, early educators, and construction tradespeople—closely mirror the updated PGWP-eligible fields.
For international students, these changes carry important implications. Anyone applying for a study permit on or after June 25, 2025 must select a program from the revised list if they wish to qualify for a post-graduation work permit. Degree-level students at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level remain unaffected and retain automatic PGWP eligibility regardless of their field.
Transitional policies are in place to mitigate disruption. Students already in Canada or those who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025 will retain their PGWP eligibility, even if their chosen program was later removed from the list. This ensures students are not penalized mid-program due to regulatory changes.
Designated learning institutions (DLIs) are expected to experience a surge in demand for programs newly added to the list—particularly in health care support, education assistance, and trade certifications. Employers in hospitals, schools, and construction sectors will benefit from increased access to work-ready international graduates.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has committed to conducting annual reviews each spring, recalibrating PGWP program eligibility to reflect real-time labour needs and evolving Express Entry prioritization. Future students are encouraged to consult both PGWP eligibility and Express Entry occupation targets when selecting their program to maximize long-term immigration prospects.