Environmental Scan Newcomers to Northwestern Ontario Our region receives between 300 and 500 newcomers each year. All categories of immigration. Professionals Skilled workers Family class Refugees International students who apply for permanent residence Refugee families in Northwestern Ontario have settled in Hearst, Marathon, Fort Frances, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Kenora and Thunder Bay. As families find employment and obtain their driver’s licenses they move to surrounding communities. 200-250 people receive their Canadian Citizenship each year in NWO. Top countries of arrival are: Burma, China, India, Colombia, U.S., U.K., Saudi Arabia, and then other Caribbean and Middle Eastern countries.

Recruitment challenges and skills shortages 25% of Canada’s population will be over 65 by 2035 5M Canadians set to retire by 2035 Canada’s fertility rate is 1.6, ranked 181st globally (below Canada’s replacement rate of 2.1) Major demographic pressures affecting the Canadian labour force today include: the large number of baby boomers approaching retirement age and the shortage of young people available to replace them. Employers consistently report challenges in recruiting the skilled talent they need in their organizations. Competition for employees will continue—and increase—as employers in all sectors are affected by changing labour force demographics. There is a wealth of skilled and talented people who are not effectively engaged in the Canadian workforce. The immigrant workforce, Canadian-born visible minorities, youth, mature workers, persons with disabilities and Aboriginal Peoples have all been overlooked in the past. Their talents are wasted—either by not employing or by under-employing qualified candidates. If employers wish to thrive, they need be able to recruit and retain the talent they need. To do this, they must be equipped with an understanding of how to connect with and support these undervalued groups. Employers cannot afford to ignore such a large segment of Canada’s labour force, and should look to engage under-utilized pools of talent as part of the solution to recruitment challenges and skills shortages.  Canada's fertility rate fell to a record low in 2000, following ten straight years of decline in the number of births. (Fertility rate = the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime) The fertility rate is currently 1.5 children per woman aged 15 to 49, well below the replacement rate of 2.1.

Recruitment challenges and skills shortages As of 2017, all net labour force growth in Canada is expected to come from immigration. Our region needs all of our youth, indigenous work force and immigrants to keep up with the needs. 350,000 Estimated number of immigrants Canada will need annually by 2035 to meet its workforce needs Immigrant who are highly skilled and highly educated are under represented.

Languages Available   Amharic, Arabic, Belgian, Burmese, Cantonese, Cree, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese Additional languages available through a provincial network of trained interpreters. To request an interpreter please call 345-0551 – 24 hour toll free 866-831-1144. The intake staff will ask you the details of the assignment and will arrange an interpreter and confirm with you.   Please remember that the role of the interpreter is to facilitate language ~ it is not to be an advocate, assistant, or secretary of the service provider. Please do not ask an interpreter to step outside of this professional role.

Choose Northwestern Ontario, Canada

Quick Facts Northwestern Ontario is larger than the combined size of the United Kingdom and France with a widely dispersed population of 250,000 in 36 communities. +

Northwestern Ontario, Canada offers a superior quality of life, and hundreds of career or business opportunities. Our website MovetoNWOntario.ca provides helpful information.

LIVE Home to 235,000 residents a clean and green environment, affordable housing, world-class health and social care, great shopping and recreation, a full entertainment and cultural scene. International airport and travel access

WORK Individuals with specific professions and trades are urgently needed to fill positions in the following areas: Health & Medical Skilled Trades Engineering ICT Mining

International candidates who are applying for jobs in these professions may qualify for a fast-tracked work visa, skilled workers status or provincial nominee program.

HIGH DEMAND JOBS INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: Master’s in Public Health for Administrative and Lead Roles Psychiatry (all specialties) ICU/Critical Care Anesthesiology Cardiology Family and General Practice Internal Medicine

DO BUSINESS Northwestern Ontario is the ideal location for entrepreneurs and investors to start or buy a business. 


Visit our website for job and business opportunities