New Brunswick adjust provincial workforce needs and priorities

Immigration New Brunswick has been adjusting its 2025 provincial economic immigration programs and pathways in view of overall changes to Canada’s immigration system. These adjustments ensure that our programs are correctly oriented to best address critical provincial workforce needs and priorities.

Beginning Wednesday, February 5, 2025, we will begin to reopen provincial immigration pathways in a controlled manner. Please consult individual immigration program pages for details specific to each program’s reopening and to any 2025 stream or program changes.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is now beginning to accept new applications from designated New Brunswick employers to endorse a position offered to a foreign national.

At this time, the province will not be considering designation and endorsement applications for occupations that fall under the following NOCs:

• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
• Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
• Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)
• Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
• Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
• Cooks (NOC 63200)
• Bakers (NOC 63202)
• Bartenders (NOC 64301)
• Other customer representatives (NOC 64409)
• Process control and machine operators – food and beverage processing (NOC 94140)
• Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)

The New Brunswick Express Entry stream will begin to accept new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under the following two (2) pathways in the coming weeks.

• New Brunswick Express Entry stream – Employment in New Brunswick pathway
• New Brunswick Express Entry stream – New Brunswick Interests pathway

At this time, the province will not be considering occupations that fall under the following NOCs:

• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
• Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
• Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
• Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
• Cooks (NOC 63200)
• Bakers (NOC 63202)

Please note: The New Brunswick Student connection under the New Brunswick Express Entry stream is not returning for 2025.

Qualifying New Brunswick graduates with an eligible job or job offer are still invited to apply under the New Brunswick Employment pathway of the New Brunswick Express Entry stream. Alternatively, these graduates can explore other available pathways under the New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream, the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative stream for francophone applicants, and/or the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

The New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream is beginning to accept new Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

The 2025 New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream has changed from previous years and is now comprised of three (3) separate pathways:

• New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream – New Brunswick Work Experience pathway
• New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream – New Brunswick Graduates pathway
• New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream – New Brunswick Priority Occupations pathway

Please review these new pathways carefully to determine your eligibility.

At this time, the province will not be considering occupations that fall under the following NOCs:

• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
• Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
• Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)
• Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
• Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
• Cooks (NOC 63200)
• Bakers (NOC 63202)
• Bartenders (NOC 64301)
•  Other customer representatives (NOC 64409)
• Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200)
• Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related occupations (NOC 65201)
• Process control and machine operators – food and beverage processing (NOC 94140)
• Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
• Labourers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)
• Labourers in fish and seafood (NOC 95107)

Source: gnb.ca