Nova Scotia launches initiative to connect…

Nova Scotia has begun issuing Notices of Interest to Express Entry candidates under a new "Critical Vacancies" initiative targeting urgent workforce gaps in construction and healthcare. The province announced the program last week by adding a dedicated section to its Live in Nova Scotia webpage, as reported by CIC News.

The initiative marks a shift in how Nova Scotia connects foreign workers with employers who cannot fill positions locally. Unlike the province's previous approach, which relied primarily on provincial nomination streams, this program uses the federal Express Entry pool as a recruitment database. Nova Scotia introduced an Expression of Interest model for its Provincial Nominee Program in November 2025, consolidating all applications into a centralized pool; the Critical Vacancies initiative builds on that framework by proactively reaching out to candidates rather than waiting for them to apply.

Candidates must hold an active Express Entry profile to receive a Notice of Interest. No Canadian work experience is required, and no Nova Scotia-specific employment history is necessary. The province has not yet specified which healthcare occupations it is targeting, but it has identified six construction trades: contractors and supervisors in construction trades (NOC 72014), contractors and supervisors in mechanic trades (NOC 72020), structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters (NOC 72104), welders and related machine operators (NOC 72106), carpenters (NOC 72310), and concrete finishers (NOC 73100). Forms for these six roles are available on the Critical Vacancies webpage.

"Nova Scotia is leveraging the Express Entry system to identify qualified skilled workers for local employers unable to recruit locally," the announcement states.

The program affects Express Entry candidates in construction and healthcare who meet the qualifications for roles Nova Scotia employers cannot fill domestically. It also affects temporary residents already in Nova Scotia working in natural and applied sciences, education, and manufacturing, who remain eligible for provincial nomination under the April 2026 NSNP priorities but are not part of the Critical Vacancies outreach. International applicants in those sectors are not currently being considered unless they already reside in the province.

Candidates who receive a Notice of Interest should download the submission form from the Critical Vacancies webpage and provide details about their work experience, education, and qualifications. The province will screen submissions against employer requirements and share qualified candidates with hiring companies. Employers will contact shortlisted candidates directly to schedule interviews and may extend job offers. In some cases, candidates may receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination through their Express Entry account as part of this process, though a Notice of Interest is not itself an invitation to apply for the Provincial Nominee Program or an endorsement under the Atlantic Immigration Program. Candidates who secure a job offer but do not receive a provincial invitation can still pursue federal immigration pathways, as a valid job offer provides additional points under Express Entry.

Source: CIC News — published 2026-05-21.

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