BC PNP Slashed Federal Allocations in 2024, Signaling a More Competitive 2025

A new statistical report  from BCPNP reveals that the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) navigated a challenging year in 2024 after the federal government unexpectedly reduced its nomination allocation. The program pivoted to sharply prioritize workers in healthcare, childcare, and construction. However, with its 2025 allocation cut by more than half, prospective immigrants face a much tougher and more targeted path to residency.

The “BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2024” details how the program’s plans for growth were “indefinitely paused.” After expecting 9,000 nominations, the province received only 8,000. The situation worsened for the upcoming year, with the 2025 allocation plummeting to just 4,000, despite a request for 11,000. This forced the BC PNP to reduce its application intake in the second half of 2024 to avoid creating a massive backlog.

Commitment to Regionalization 

Despite the setback, the program successfully issued all 8,000 nominations for the year. A major success highlighted in the report was the program’s commitment to regionalization; 42% of all nominees in 2024 were for jobs located outside of Metro Vancouver.

High Demand Occupations 

The most significant trend of 2024 was the strategic focus on specific, high-demand occupations. Nominations for construction workers saw an explosive 675% increase over the previous year. The care economy also received major attention, with nominations for healthcare workers rising by 71% and for early childhood educators by 52%.

This targeted approach had a noticeable effect on nominee wages. The median hourly wage for Skills Immigration nominees fell to $29.00, a drop of $5.25 from the previous year. The report attributes this to the successful push to nominate more early childhood educators, an in-demand field that typically offers lower wages.

Primary Streams 

The Skills Immigration streams remained the primary route for nominees, accounting for 7,972 of the 8,000 nominations. The Entrepreneur Immigration streams nominated 28 individuals, who in turn created 67 new jobs and invested over $12 million into the B.C. economy.

Source Countries

For 2024, the top five source countries for skilled workers were India, China, the Philippines, Iran, and Nigeria.

The 2024 report signals a clear direction for the year ahead:

• Intense Competition: With the nomination allocation slashed to 4,000, competition for a provincial nomination will be fierce. This will almost certainly lead to higher points scores required for an invitation to apply.
• Delayed International Student Streams: A planned overhaul to create new streams for international students holding Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees has been delayed due to the budget cuts. The previous streams for graduates were closed in late 2024, creating a period of uncertainty for students in the province.
• Continued Focus on Key Services: The prioritization of healthcare, childcare, and construction is expected to continue as B.C. focuses on addressing critical labour shortages in these areas.
• Strong Push for Regional Immigration: The program will continue to incentivize candidates to settle in communities outside of the Lower Mainland, a strategy that helps spread the benefits of immigration across the province.

For individuals hoping to become permanent residents of British Columbia, the report offers crucial guidance for navigating the path forward:

• Your Occupation is Critical: Your best chance of success lies in having work experience in a high-priority sector. If you work in healthcare, early childhood education, construction, or technology, you will have a significant advantage in the BC PNP’s targeted draws.
• Look Beyond Vancouver: Be open to job opportunities outside of the major urban centers. Having a valid job offer in a regional community not only increases your chances of being invited but also awards you more points in the scoring system.
• Expect High Points Requirements: In this competitive environment, every point matters. Ensure your profile is fully optimized to claim every point you are eligible for, from language skills to education and work experience. A high score will be essential.
• International Students Must Monitor Updates: If you are a student or recent graduate in B.C., you are in a temporary state of limbo. It is vital to frequently check the official WelcomeBC website for announcements on when the new, degree-based immigration streams will finally be launched and what their specific requirements will be.