Top Occupations in Demand for OINP August 2025 Draw: Full NOC List Breakdown

Top Occupations in Demand for OINP August 2025 Draw: Full NOC List Breakdown
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Ontario is directing talent to regions with the most pressing shortages—particularly Northern Ontario and REDI zones—so aligning your NOC Code, region and employer documentation is now decisive for selection. 

OINP Recent Draw Highlights

Focus

What happened on Aug 28, 2025

What it signals

Northern Ontario targeting

330 invitations across Employer Job Offer streams

Region-first priorities; strong prospects if your job offer is outside the GTA and in the North. 

REDI – Foreign Worker

57 invitations (score 45+)

Employers in REDI communities are being supported to fill critical roles. 

REDI – In-Demand Skills

25 invitations (score 34+)

TEER 4–5 roles still matter—especially where shortages are persistent. 


OINP Draw Occupations & Respective NOC Codes

Below are NOC 2021 codes and titles (TEER levels shown where relevant), verified from the Government of Canada NOC directory. Use these to check your job offer and work history against OINP requirements.

A) Healthcare roles commonly driving demand

  • 31301 — Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (TEER 1)

  • 33102 — Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (TEER 3)

  • 31120 — Pharmacists (TEER 1)

  • 31102 — General practitioners and family physicians (TEER 1)

B) Tech roles repeatedly seen in Ontario selections

  • 21231 — Software engineers and designers (TEER 1)

  • 21232 — Software developers and programmers (TEER 1)

  • 21222 — Information systems specialists (TEER 1)

  • 22221 — User support technicians (TEER 2)

Ontario’s tech hiring is diversified (product, infra, support). Even TEER 2 roles like User Support Technicians can be decisive outside Toronto when paired with the right employer and region points. 

C) Roles typical of In-Demand Skills & REDI targeting

  • 73300 — Transport truck drivers (TEER 3). 

  • 73400 — Heavy equipment operators (TEER 3). 

  • 42202 — Early childhood educators and assistants (TEER 2). 

  • 75110 — Construction trades helpers and labourers (TEER 5). 

The In-Demand Skills stream is intentionally built around specific occupations and regions (often TEER 4–5 occupations), while REDI allocations reinforce regional labour priorities.

Steps To Know Before Applying For OINP Application

  1. Select The Stream Matching Your Profile

  • Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker / International Student 

Your job offer must be TEER 0-3 under NOC 2021. Ensure the offer is from an eligible employer and meets wage, full-time, and permanence requirements.

  • Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills 

Only specific occupations are eligible, with regional lists. Check your NOC on the stream page before you create an EOI.

  1. Expression of Interest (EOI)

Create/update your EOI and aim to maximize points for job location (Northern Ontario and regions outside the GTA are rewarded in multiple Employer Job Offer Streams). 

  1.  Employer Portal Steps 

Your employer must register the job offer and submit a position approval in the OINP New Employer Portal before you can be nominated under Ontario immigration streams. Ensure the employer profile is accurate and complete (years in business, employees, revenue, Ontario workplace). 

  1.  Prepare Documentation For OINP

For OINP, match your job duties to the right NOC, include proof of education (ECA), and provide valid language test results (minimum CLB 4 for In-Demand Skills). Clear documents help avoid delays or refusals.

  • NOC proof: Match main duties to the NOC unit group; include detailed job descriptions and organizational charts if helpful.

  • Education: Degree/diploma for TEER 0–2 roles; ECA if earned outside Canada 

  • Language: For In-Demand Skills, minimum CLB 4 still applies; have recent results ready.

  1.  LMIA From Northern Ontario Employer

If you can reasonably accept employment in Northern Ontario, your selection odds improve when the province runs targeted draws for that region—as it did on Aug 28, 2025. 

OINP Demand Occupation NOC & Immigration Category

Occupation (NOC 2021)

Employer Job Offer Category

Region signal

Registered nurse (31301)

Foreign Worker Stream / International Student Stream

Province-wide; hospitals/long-term care shortages. 

Pharmacist (31120)

Foreign Worker Stream / International Student Stream

Province-wide; community & hospital settings. 

Software engineer (21231)

Foreign Worker Stream / International Student Stream

Stronger in urban/tech hubs; regional points help. 

User support technician (22221)

Foreign Worker Stream / International Student Stream

Often outside GTA in IT support; points via location. 

Transport truck driver (73300)

In-Demand Skills; REDI targeting

Frequent in regional draws. 

Early childhood educator/assistant (42202)

In-Demand Skills

Municipal/regional childcare shortages. 

Heavy equipment operator (73400)

In-Demand Skills; REDI targeting

Infrastructure/mining corridors, especially North. 


Summary

  • Ontario used targeted regional draws on Aug 28, 2025, emphasizing Northern Ontario and REDI.

  • If your job offer is TEER 0–3, you’re usually in Foreign Worker/International Student scope; In-Demand Skills is a listed-occupation stream (often TEER 4–5) that continues to see REDI invites.

  • Verified NOC matches (e.g., 31301, 31120, 21231, 21232, 21222, 22221, 73300, 73400, 42202, 75110) are essential to avoid refusals. Use the federal NOC tool to confirm duties.

 

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