This report is based on a QuestJobs listings of more than 30,000 jobs posted between November 19, 2025 and February 27, 2026, spanning 9 provinces and 19 PR pathways. QuestJobs is designed for people searching for Permanent Residency (PR) sponsorship jobs in Canada, visa sponsorship jobs Canada, and PR-focused hiring trends connected to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) and Express Entry jobs and programs.
Summary and key stats
Total PR-eligible jobs (Canada): 30,000+
Posting date range: Nov 19, 2025 → Feb 27, 2026
Total PR pathways represented: 19
Provinces covered: 9
Top 3 most listed occupations: Nurse | Carpenter | Cooks
Top 3 provinces with the most Permanent Residency (PR) - eligible jobs in Canada
These three provinces account for 68.3% of all listings in the portal.
| Rank | Province | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31.6% | |
| 2 | 18.7% | |
| 3 | 18.0% |
Top 10 companies with the most PR-eligible job listings across Canada
The top 10 employers account for 14.3% of all job postings. However, eligibility varies by PR pathway—each program has its own employer and occupation requirements. Some pathways require employers to be formally designated, while others use eligibility criteria such as maintaining a real physical workplace in the province (office, shop, or other brick-and-mortar operations) and meeting minimum operating-history requirements (often at least one year, and in some cases two). These are examples of the checks QuestJobs performs before tagging an employer as “eligible to sponsor.”
| Company | Share |
|---|---|
|
RBC |
2.48% |
|
Interior Health |
1.83% |
|
Fraser Health |
1.80% |
|
Scotiabank |
1.75% |
|
Northern Health |
1.59% |
|
Tim Hortons |
1.17% |
|
Accenture |
0.96% |
|
J.D. Irving |
0.96% |
|
Vancouver Coastal Health |
0.87% |
|
KPMG |
0.87% |
How to use this (high-converting job search approach):
If your goal is a PR-aligned job, an employer-first strategy often beats a job-title-first strategy. Companies that post repeatedly give applicants more chances to apply, follow up, and iterate—especially when paired with pathway-aligned filters.
5 permanent residency pathways with the most jobs
The top 5 pathways account for 63.6% of the dataset.
| Rank | PR pathway | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontario Employer Offer: International Student | 28.0% |
| 2 | British Columbia PNP Skilled Worker Stream | 11.6% |
| 3 | Alberta Rural Renewal Stream | 9.0% |
| 4 | Alberta Opportunity Stream | 8.9% |
| 5 | British Columbia Health Authority Stream | 6.1% |
Why these pathways dominate:
-
Ontario’s International Student Stream is the largest “volume engine” in the listings.
-
BC shows a strong pattern of Skilled Worker + Health Authority hiring.
-
Alberta’s hiring is supported by two large streams at similar scale (Rural Renewal + Opportunity Stream).
All 19 PR pathways in the QuestJobs portal
1.Ontario Employer Offer: International Student Stream
2.Ontario Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
3.British Columbia PNP Skilled Worker Stream
4.British Columbia Health Authority Stream
6.Alberta Rural Renewal Stream
7.Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker – Employment Offer
8.Saskatchewan Health Talent Pathway
9.Manitoba Skilled Worker – In Demand Occupations
10.Atlantic Immigration Program
11.Rural and Francophone Community Immigration
12.New Brunswick Skilled Worker – International Graduate Pathway
13.New Brunswick Skilled Worker – Experience Pathway
14.New Brunswick Critical Worker Program
15.Newfoundland and Labrador Skilled Worker
16.Nova Scotia Skilled Worker Program
17.Nova Scotia Occupations in Demand
18.Nova Scotia Critical Construction Pathway
Reminder for readers: Pathway eligibility rules can change. Always confirm requirements on official provincial/IRCC sources before making decisions.
What the distribution tells us (and why it matters for IRCC + Express Entry search intent)
Even when users search “Express Entry jobs Canada,” the practical pathway to PR often involves provincial nomination, employer-supported streams, and regional programs that align job demand with immigration selection. This export reflects that reality: job volume is being concentrated through specific provincial and regional pathways, not spread evenly across every program type.
1) Ontario leads because one pathway drives the biggest share
Ontario’s largest driver is Ontario Employer Offer: International Student Stream, which shapes the province’s share of PR-eligible postings in the dataset.
Applicant implication: Ontario can mean more opportunities, but strategy still matters: target repeat-posting employers, focus on roles you qualify for, and prioritize locations where hiring is consistent.
2) British Columbia shows a “Skilled Worker + Health” hiring signature
BC’s strongest drivers are BC PNP Skilled Worker Stream and BC Health Authority Stream.
Applicant implication: Healthcare-aligned candidates (including healthcare-adjacent roles like admin, IT, logistics, and support) often benefit from BC’s institutional hiring volume.
3) Alberta is powered by two major streams
Alberta’s volume is supported by Alberta Rural Renewal Stream and Alberta Opportunity Stream at similar scale.
Applicant implication: Alberta can be attractive for candidates open to a wider range of communities and employers, not only the biggest cities.
Top 10 most listed jobs (PR-eligible job titles across Canada)
| Rank | Job title | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook | 0.46% |
| 2 | Carpenter | 0.40% |
| 3 | Pharmacist | 0.25% |
| 4 | Physician | 0.23% |
| 5 | Licensed Practical Nurse | 0.23% |
| 6 | Cashier | 0.22% |
| 7 | Occupational Therapist | 0.21% |
| 8 | Nurse | 0.21% |
| 9 | Restaurant Manager | 0.20% |
| 10 | Registered Nurse | 0.20% |
Bonus: top cities with the most PR-eligible job volume
These cities had the highest posting volume , useful for applicants searching “jobs in Toronto,” “jobs in Vancouver,” etc.:
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