North Okanagan-Shuswap Announces Eligible Occupations for RCIP

The North Okanagan-Shuswap region in British Columbia has released its list of priority sectors and occupations under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), offering a new pathway to permanent residence (PR) for foreign nationals.

The five priority sectors are Health, Education, Law, Social, Community and Government Services; Sales and Service, Trades and Transport; and Manufacturing and Utilities.

Eligible occupations include administrative assistants, nurse aides, automotive service technicians, early childhood educators, welders, and restaurant managers, among others. Minimum wage rates are set at $25 for management roles and $22 for all other occupations.

Recommendation caps have been introduced for specific roles and subsectors, including fast food establishments and gasoline stations. Each employer will be allowed a limited number of candidate recommendations per occupation.

Employer designation will open on May 1, 2025, with five candidate intake windows scheduled throughout the year, beginning May 12. Foreign nationals must secure a job offer from a designated employer and meet work experience, education, and language requirements to qualify for the RCIP.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap region spans the northern Okanagan Valley and the Shuswap area and aims to attract skilled workers to address critical labour shortages.