The Prince Edward Island government needs to do a much better job of targeting immigration to fill critical worker shortages, the province’s two opposition parties say.
Information provided to CBC News by the province shows that among those invited by P.E.I. to immigrate to Canada, through the Atlantic immigration program and the provincial nominee program in 2023, about one in four people listed occupations in food service and accommodations. A further 10 per cent were in retail.
Occupations of immigration invitees for P.E.I.
Provincial nominee program and Atlantic immigration program
A bar chart showing immigration invitees for P.E.I. by occupation.
Food service and accommodation
535
Construction
31
Assisting occupations in support of health services
220
Nursing and allied health professionals
7
Home care provider occupations
7
Food processing
184
Transportation and warehousing
181
Entrepreneur
76
Retail and wholesale
226
Manufacturing
111
Other
542
Source: Government of P.E.I. (CBC)
About nine per cent were in health care, but more than 90 per cent of those were in lower skilled areas, categorized as assisting occupations in support of health services, which includes resident care workers and pharmacy assistants. Only 1.5 per cent were in construction.
“It’s kind of staggering when you think about it,” said interim Liberal leader Hal Perry.
