Who Qualifies Under Canada's 2025 Immigration Plan?

Canada's 2025 immigration plan is creating waves, stirring both praise and criticism. The government has announced substantial changes to its immigration strategy, shifting focus toward economic needs while cutting back on overall targets. With a looming housing crisis and an election year approaching, this new plan underscores a deliberate prioritization of select labour sectors. But who really benefits from these reforms—and who gets left behind?

Significance of Canada's 2025 Immigration Plan

1. Prioritization of the Construction Sector Amid Housing Crisis

Canada’s housing crisis has pushed the federal government to focus on boosting the construction workforce. In March 2025, a new national program was introduced, offering up to 6,000 out-of-status construction workers the chance to apply for permanent residency. This comes after a successful pilot in the Greater Toronto Area, which provided status to 1,365 people and their families.

This shift highlights how immigration policy is increasingly aligned with economic urgencies. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association has actively lobbied for this inclusion, citing labour shortages. Occupations like roofers, concrete finishers, and heavy-duty equipment mechanics are now prioritized, demonstrating how immigration is used as a tool to meet immediate industry needs.

Explore high-demand occupations in Canada

2. Exclusion of Key Sectors: Caregiving, Domestic Work, and Agriculture

While construction workers gain a clear path to PR, thousands of others in essential yet undervalued roles remain excluded. Caregivers, domestic workers, and agricultural labourers—many of whom are racialized—are left without a direct route to permanent residency.

Shiva S. Mohan from Toronto Metropolitan University notes that the reforms disproportionately favour certain types of labour. Canada’s immigration structure, according to Mohan, assigns higher value to labour that aligns with business and industry interests, often sidelining roles tied to gender and race disparities.

3. A Fragmented and Insufficient Regularization Framework

Estimates suggest that Canada is home to between 300,000 and 600,000 out-of-status residents. Yet, the new construction-focused PR pathway addresses only 1 to 2 percent of them. Programs are narrowly targeted, quickly capped, and often overwhelmed by demand. According to Mohan, Canada's piecemeal approach to regularization lacks the comprehensive coverage seen in countries like Spain, which in 2005 granted status to 700,000 people based on work history and community ties.

4. Sharp Cuts to Immigration Targets Ahead of Federal Election

The 2025 immigration plan includes a significant cut in permanent residency targets—from 500,000 to 395,000. Temporary foreign workers will see a 40% drop by 2026, and international student intake is also being reduced by 10%.

The government argues this is necessary to reduce pressure on housing, healthcare, and public services. Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller remarked that nearly five million temporary permits will expire by the end of 2025, and the expectation is that most permit holders will leave voluntarily.

Learn more about Canada's immigration pathways at A2Zimmi

5. Revised Express Entry Categories Reshape Who Qualifies

Canada’s Express Entry system has undergone a strategic overhaul:

Healthcare and Social Services: Added occupations: Pharmacists, Dental hygienists, Social workers, etc. Removed occupations: Educational counsellors, Acupuncturists, etc.

STEM: 19 occupations removed including Software engineers, Data scientists, Web developers, etc. No new STEM occupations added, indicating a perceived surplus or reduced demand.

Trades: Added: Construction managers, Cooks, Gas fitters, etc. Removed: Elevator constructors, Residential installers, etc.

Agriculture: Added: Farm supervisors, Landscaping contractors

Education: New category added to address teacher shortages. Included occupations like Kindergarten teachers and Early childhood educators.

Transport: Entire category removed from targeted selection, including Truck drivers and Airline pilots.

This restructuring makes it clear: sectors considered essential to economic growth—especially trades and healthcare—will have easier pathways to PR. Meanwhile, those in tech or transport may face greater obstacles.

Canada’s 2025 immigration reforms reveal a calculated shift in priorities. By narrowing the eligibility pool and favouring certain sectors, the government aims to address economic pressures—but risks deepening inequities for many temporary or out-of-status residents. While the plan supports critical industries like construction and healthcare, it also sidelines vital yet vulnerable labour groups.

For prospective immigrants or those affected by these changes, navigating this new landscape can be complex. Visit A2Zimmi to explore your options, or schedule a consultation today to understand how these changes impact you personally.