Canada Extends Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot to Address Labour Gaps

Key Takeaways

• Canada extends EMPP until December 31, 2025, to help skilled refugees fill labour shortages.
• EMPP accepts up to 950 job offer and 150 no job offer applications annually.
• Fee waivers and settlement supports ease refugees’ integration into Canada’s workforce.

Canada Extends Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot to Help More Refugees Fill Labour Gaps

Canada 🇨🇦 has taken another major step in its approach to immigration by extending the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) until December 31, 2025. This move, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on June 12, 2025, is designed to help more skilled refugees and displaced persons move to Canada 🇨🇦 and fill important labour shortages. The extension comes at a time when many Canadian employers, especially in healthcare, construction, and food services, are struggling to find enough workers.

What Is the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot?

The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, or EMPP, is a special program that lets skilled refugees and displaced people immigrate to Canada 🇨🇦 through economic immigration streams. Unlike traditional refugee resettlement, which is based mainly on humanitarian needs, the EMPP focuses on matching refugees who have valuable skills with Canadian employers who need workers. This approach helps both the newcomers and the Canadian economy.

The EMPP started in 2019 as a small pilot project. Since then, it has grown and now includes both a Job Offer stream and a No Job Offer stream. The program has already helped 970 people move to Canada 🇨🇦, with more than 30% working in healthcare roles. The latest extension means even more refugees will have a chance to build new lives in Canada 🇨🇦 while helping the country fill important jobs.

Key Details of the 2025 EMPP Extension

• Application Deadline: The EMPP is open for applications until December 31, 2025.
• Annual Intake Cap: The federal EMPP stream will accept up to 950 job offer-based applications in 2025.
• No Job Offer Stream: There is also a No Job Offer stream, capped at 150 applications per year, for refugees who meet certain work experience, education, and language requirements.
• Processing Time: IRCC aims to process 80% of EMPP applications within six months, though high demand may cause some delays.
• Fee Waivers: Application and biometric fees are waived for EMPP applicants and their family members. Medical exam costs are also covered.
• Settlement Supports: Successful applicants can get loans for travel and settlement expenses, as well as pre-arrival orientation to help them adjust to life in Canada 🇨🇦.

Why Is the EMPP Important?

Canada 🇨🇦 faces ongoing shortages of skilled workers in many sectors. The EMPP helps address these gaps by bringing in refugees who have the skills and experience Canadian employers need. At the same time, the program gives refugees a safe and legal way to rebuild their lives and support their families.

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has played a key role in extending the EMPP and making sure it meets both humanitarian and economic goals. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the EMPP is seen as a model for how countries can combine refugee protection with economic growth.

Who Can Apply for the EMPP?

The EMPP is open to skilled refugees and displaced persons who meet certain requirements. Here’s what applicants need to know:

Eligibility Criteria:
– Refugee Status: Applicants must have official refugee status, such as recognition by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a similar authority.
– Skills and Experience: Applicants must meet specific work experience, education, and language requirements. These depend on the job and the stream they are applying for.
– No Criminal or Medical Inadmissibility: Applicants must not have any criminal record or health issues that would make them inadmissible to Canada 🇨🇦.

Application Streams:
– Job Offer Stream: Applicants need a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in a high-demand sector like healthcare, construction, or food services.
– No Job Offer Stream: For those without a job offer, this stream allows up to 150 applications per year. Applicants must show they have the right skills, education, and language ability.

Step-by-Step Application Process for Refugees

1. Check Eligibility: Make sure you have official refugee status and meet the work, education, and language requirements.
2. Secure a Job Offer (if needed): For the Job Offer stream, find a Canadian employer willing to hire you. Organizations like Talent Beyond Boundaries can help connect refugees with employers.
3. Choose Your Pathway: Decide whether to apply through the federal EMPP (which includes both streams) or a regional program like the Atlantic Immigration Program or a Provincial Nominee Program.
4. Submit Your Application: Complete the application online and provide all required documents. For the federal EMPP, you can find the application forms and instructions on the official IRCC EMPP page.
5. Processing: IRCC will review your application. Most are processed within six months, and you won’t have to pay application or biometric fees. Medical exam costs are also covered.
6. Settlement: If approved, you’ll get help with travel and settlement costs, as well as orientation to help you adjust to life in Canada 🇨🇦.

How Employers Can Take Part in the EMPP

Canadian employers, especially those in sectors facing worker shortages, can benefit from the EMPP by hiring skilled refugees. Here’s how the process works:

1. Identify Labour Needs: Decide which roles in your company are suitable for EMPP candidates.
2. Recruit Candidates: Work with partners like Talent Beyond Boundaries or recruit directly from the pool of skilled refugees.
3. Provide a Job Offer: Issue a formal job offer to the selected candidate.
4. Support the Application: Help the candidate with the necessary paperwork and support their onboarding once they arrive in Canada 🇨🇦.

Employers who take part in the EMPP often find that refugee employees are highly motivated and bring valuable skills to their teams. Many employers also report that hiring through the EMPP helps them fill jobs that have been vacant for a long time.

What Makes the EMPP Different from Traditional Refugee Resettlement?

Traditional refugee resettlement programs focus mainly on helping people who are most in need of protection, often without considering their work experience or skills. The EMPP, on the other hand, is designed to match skilled refugees with jobs in Canada 🇨🇦. This means that newcomers arrive with a job lined up, making it easier for them to settle in and contribute to their new communities.

The EMPP also removes many of the financial barriers that can make it hard for refugees to move. By waiving application and biometric fees, covering medical exam costs, and offering loans for travel and settlement, the program makes it much easier for refugees to start their new lives.

Impact on Canada’s Labour Market

Canada 🇨🇦 has long relied on immigration to help grow its economy and fill jobs. The EMPP is a key part of this strategy, especially as the country faces shortages in healthcare, construction, and food services. Over 30% of EMPP immigrants work in healthcare, helping to address critical gaps in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care homes.

Employers in construction and food services have also benefited from the EMPP, finding skilled workers who are ready to contribute from day one. The program is especially important in rural and remote areas, where it can be hard to attract workers through other means.

Humanitarian Benefits for Refugees

For refugees and displaced persons, the EMPP offers more than just a job. It provides a safe, legal, and dignified way to rebuild their lives. Many refugees who have come to Canada 🇨🇦 through the EMPP report that the program has changed their lives, giving them a sense of purpose and the chance to support their families.

Refugee advocacy groups, including Talent Beyond Boundaries, have praised the EMPP for restoring dignity and opportunity to people who have lost so much. The program is seen as a model for how countries can help refugees while also meeting their own economic needs.

Voices from the Field: Stakeholder Perspectives

Government: The Canadian government sees the EMPP as a cornerstone of its approach to immigration. By combining humanitarian and economic goals, the program helps Canada 🇨🇦 meet its labour needs while also upholding its commitment to protect refugees.

Employers: Many employers say that EMPP candidates are among their most dedicated and skilled workers. They appreciate the support provided by the program, which makes it easier to hire and integrate new employees.

Refugees: For refugees, the EMPP is often life-changing. Many say that having a job lined up before arriving in Canada 🇨🇦 makes it much easier to settle in and feel at home.

Advocacy Groups: Organizations like Talent Beyond Boundaries have played a key role in developing and supporting the EMPP. They continue to push for the program to become a permanent part of Canada’s immigration system.

Background: How the EMPP Began and Grew

The EMPP was launched in 2019 as a partnership between the Canadian government and organizations like Talent Beyond Boundaries. The goal was to test whether skilled refugees could successfully immigrate through economic pathways, rather than just through traditional resettlement.

In its early years, the EMPP was small, but it quickly showed that refugees could fill important jobs and integrate well into Canadian society. Over time, the program expanded to include more sectors and more applicants. By March 2025, nearly 1,000 people had come to Canada 🇨🇦 through the EMPP.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the EMPP

With the extension to December 2025, there is growing discussion about making the EMPP a permanent part of Canada’s immigration system. The program’s success has drawn attention from other countries, some of which are considering similar models.

IRCC is also looking at ways to expand the EMPP, possibly by increasing the application cap or adding new sectors like technology and manufacturing. The upcoming G7 Summit is expected to highlight the EMPP as a best practice for combining humanitarian and economic goals.

Practical Guidance: How to Get Started

If you are a skilled refugee or displaced person interested in the EMPP, or an employer looking to fill jobs, here’s what you can do:

• Visit the Official EMPP Page: The Government of Canada EMPP page has up-to-date information on eligibility, application instructions, and deadlines.
• Contact Talent Beyond Boundaries: This organization helps connect skilled refugees with Canadian employers and provides support throughout the application process.
• Consult a Licensed Immigration Professional: For personalized advice, consider speaking with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.

Summary Table: Key EMPP Details

Takeaways and Next Steps

The extension of the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot is a win-win for Canada 🇨🇦 and for refugees around the world. By making it easier for skilled refugees to move to Canada 🇨🇦 and fill important jobs, the EMPP supports both economic growth and humanitarian values.

If you are interested in applying, don’t wait—visit the official IRCC EMPP website for the most current information and to start your application. Employers can also find resources and support to help them recruit skilled refugees and fill critical roles.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the EMPP is setting a new standard for how countries can welcome refugees while meeting their own workforce needs. With its focus on dignity, opportunity, and economic contribution, the EMPP is helping to shape the future of immigration policy in Canada 🇨🇦 and beyond.

Learn Today

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) → A Canadian program allowing skilled refugees to immigrate through economic immigration streams matching skills to job needs.
Refugee Status → Official recognition by authorities like UNHCR confirming an individual’s need for protection and eligibility for resettlement.
Job Offer Stream → Application pathway under EMPP requiring a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in a high-demand sector.
No Job Offer Stream → EMPP pathway for skilled refugees without job offers but who meet specific experience, education, and language criteria.
Settlement Supports → Financial and orientation assistance provided to EMPP newcomers to help with travel, housing, and community integration.

This Article in a Nutshell

Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot now extends through 2025, aiding skilled refugees in filling critical labour gaps. This program waives fees, offers settlement support, and processes applications swiftly, ensuring refugees contribute meaningfully to sectors like healthcare, construction, and food services while building new lives in Canada.
— By VisaVerge.com