Around 127,200 people work in Canada as carpenters, according to the Canadian government’s Job Bank website.
There is currently a shortage of skilled workers who are needed to fill thousands of carpenter jobs in Canada and the demand for carpenters is forecast to remain strong during the 2023-2031 time period.
It is further forecast that there will be about 37,900 Canadian job openings for carpenters during this same period of time, as thousands of carpenters retire from the workforce and thousands of new carpenter jobs in Canada are created.
This article will discuss how to immigrate to Canada as a carpenter, the basic employment requirements, and the best places to find carpenter jobs in Canada for foreigners, so continue reading to learn the essential information!
Table of Contents
How to Immigrate to Canada as a Carpenter?
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- One way to immigrate to Canada as a carpenter is through the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
- At least one year of full-time paid work experience in an eligible occupation in the past five years is required.
- The applicant must show a certain level of English or French language abilities as follows:
- English – IELTS scores equivalent to CLB 5 for listening and speaking / CLB 4 for reading and writing
- French – TEF scores equivalent to NCLC 5 for listening and speaking / NCLC 4 for reading and writing
- One of the following is required:
- Qualification Certificate in the province/territory where the immigrant will work in Canada; or
- Qualifying offer of full-time employment in Canada last at least one year in the eligible skilled trade.
- Good character, good health and other criteria must be satisfied and the governmental fees must be paid.
- Application to the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is made by creating an online Express Entry profile.
- An Invitation to Apply (ITA) must be received in order to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
- A decision is usually made within six months after the application for Canadian permanent residency is filed.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Another way to immigrate to Canada as a carpenter is through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
- Eleven Canadian provinces and territories have their own Provincial Nominee Programs.
- Each province/territory that participates in the PNP creates its own eligibility requirements.
- The PNP requirements generally include having an occupation that is needed in the province/territory.
- The PNPs also generally require foreign workers to have a certain level of English or French language skills.
- Many PNPs require the foreign worker to have a ‘connection’ to the province/territory (e.g., prior studies or family there, etc.).
- Furthermore, the PNP applicant must generally have a genuine desire to live and work in the province/territory.
- Good character, good health and other criteria must also be satisfied and the governmental fees must be paid.
- The first major step is to apply to a particular Provincial Nominee Program.
- If the provincial/territorial immigration officials issue a nomination certificate, the second major step is to apply for Canadian permanent residency with Canada’s federal immigration agency.
- Application for Canadian immigration through the PNP can be done using the Express Entry system.
- After being approved for Canadian permanent residency through the PNP, the foreign worker and his or her family will settle in the province or territory that nominated them.
Steps to Immigrate to Canada as a Carpenter
- Find out if you are eligible for a particular Canadian immigration program (such as the FSTP or PNP)
- Learn about the trade certification criteria for the province/territory where you want to work in Canada
- Contact the relevant regulatory body in the province/territory where you want to work in Canada
- Complete the process to get a Qualification Certificate in the province/territory where you want to work in Canada
- Prepare for and take an approved language evaluation exam, such as the IELTS for English or TEF for French
- Gather the required supporting documents that you will need for your Canadian immigration application
- Create an Express Entry online profile and/or apply for a PNP or other Canadian immigration program
- Start searching for carpenter jobs in Canada in the province or territory where you received your trade certification
- Once you receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA), file your Canadian permanent residency application, pay the fees, etc.
- If approved for Canadian permanent residency, move to Canada while your Confirmation of Perm
Employment Requirements
In order to apply for carpenter jobs in Canada, a worker must generally:
- Have a secondary/high school education (normally required)
- Complete an apprenticeship program lasting 3-4 years OR have more than 4 years of work experience as a carpenter along with completion of courses in carpentry (normally needed for trade certification)
- Trade certification is generally mandatory for carpenters in Canada (check with the relevant provincial/territorial regulatory body for further details).
Carpenter Jobs in Canada
Where Can I Find Carpenter Jobs in Canada for Foreigners?
- The Canadian government’s Job Bank website is a good place to search for carpenter jobs in Canada.
- There are also well-known online job search platforms that make it easy to seek Canadian jobs.
- You could network online for carpenter jobs in Canada by creating a LinkedIn professional profile.
- Employment recruitment agencies could match you with employers trying to fill carpenter jobs in Canada.
How Many Jobs Are Available in Canada?
- There are around 818,195 Canadian jobs available in all sectors of the economy (2023).
- This includes several thousand carpenter jobs in Canada that are currently available.
- It is forecast that there will be 37,900 available carpenter jobs in Canada between 2023 and 2031.
Carpenter Salary in Canada – The national median wage for a carpenter is $30.00 CAD per hour.
Which Province Is the Best for Carpenter Jobs in Canada?
The best provinces and territories to find carpenter jobs in Canada for foreigners are:
There are also moderate opportunities for carpenter jobs in Canada’s provinces of:
Should You Move to Canada as a Carpenter?
Only you can decide if you should move to Canada as a carpenter, based on your own calculation of the potential benefits and other factors.
There is a strong demand for carpenters in Canada, particularly in certain provinces such as Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
A moderate demand also exists for skilled tradespeople to fill carpenter jobs in Canada’s provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
The Canadian government forecasts that 37,900 carpenter jobs in Canada will need to be filled between now and 2031.
The national median wage (half-way between the highest and lowest wages) for carpenter jobs in Canada is $30.00 CAD per hour (about $57,600 per year), but there are differences in the pay for carpenters based on location, employer, experience, skills, etc.
Canada is one of the world’s top destinations for immigrants, with plans to welcome 465,000 new Canadian permanent residents in 2023; 485,000 in 2024; 500,000 in 2025; and 500,000 in 2026.
Approximately 60% of these new immigrants are skilled foreign workers and their families.
Canadian permanent residents can enjoy many benefits such as:
- Living in Canada for an unlimited time period
- Working in Canada for an unlimited period of time
- Receiving free or subsidized public healthcare in Canada
- Gaining access to world-class Canadian educational programs
- Enjoying equality and freedom in an immigrant-friendly country
- Traveling to and from Canada according to the regulations
- Sponsoring eligible family members for a Canadian visa
- Getting the opportunity to buy a home and/or start a business in Canada
- Being able to visit beautiful beaches, parks, forests, mountains, lakes, etc.
- Having the option to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada for 3 years
Canada is consistently ranked year after year among the top countries with the best quality of life, also boasting one of longest average life expectancies at birth in the world (84.67 years for women and 80.62 years for men).
Furthermore, the statistics show that the children of immigrants generally outperform their Canadian-born peer in educational measurements within just a few years after they move to Canada.
So, what do you think? Should you move to Canada as a carpenter?
Conclusion
There is a high demand for French-speaking skilled foreign workers in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada.
There are thousands of carpenter jobs in Canada for foreigners and the demand is expected to remain high throughout this decade.
If you are wondering about how to immigrate to Canada, but you’re not sure what to do, don’t worry!
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with a team of authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility to immigrate to Canada as a carpenter and can guide you step-by-step through the application process if you qualify.
The first step is find out which Canadian immigration program you are eligible to apply for.
Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
Can I immigrate to Canada as a carpenter?
There is a strong demand for skilled foreign workers to help fill thousands of carpenter jobs in Canada. Canadian Visa Expert works with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility for immigration to Canada.
Is carpenter in demand in Canada?
Yes, there is a demand for carpenters in most of Canada’s provinces and territories and this is expected to continue until at least 2031. The strongest demand to fill carpenter jobs in Canada is in Ontario (which also has the largest economy in the country), Saskatchewan (which has a low cost of living in Canada), Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. A moderate demand also exists for skilled tradespeople to fill carpenter jobs in Canada’s provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
How can I work as a carpenter in Canada?
In general, to work as a carpenter in Canada you will usually need to have completed at least a secondary/high school education and also an apprenticeship program lasting 3-4 years OR have more than 4 years of work experience as a carpenter along with completion of courses in carpentry (normally needed for trade certification). Trade certification is generally mandatory for carpenters in Canada, but it is a good idea to check with the relevant provincial/territorial regulatory body regarding the employment criteria for carpenters. Of course, part of the process to apply for carpenter jobs in Canada for foreigners is to be authorized for Canadian immigration as a permanent resident (for example, through the Federal Skilled Trades Program or Provincial Nominee Program) or to receive a temporary work permit for Canada.
What qualifications do I need to be a carpenter in Canada?
Qualifications to be a carpenter in Canada usually require the worker to have finished a secondary/high school education plus an apprenticeship program that lasted 3-4 years OR to have over 4 years of work experience as a carpenter and also completion of carpentry courses in high school, vocational school, etc. It is generally required that carpenters in Canada will receive trade certification in the province or territory where they will work in Canada. You can check online with the regulatory body for carpenters in the province or territory where you are considering working in Canada for the specific details.
Can I apply for Canadian jobs as a US citizen?
Yes, a person can apply for Canadian jobs as a US citizen (and thousands of Americans do); however, a US citizen will generally need to receive a work permit for Canada or become a Canadian permanent resident to legally work in Canada.
How much is a carpenter paid in Canada?
The national median wage for carpenter jobs in Canada is $30.00 per hour (around $57,600 per year), but the amount varies in the different Canadian provinces and territories as well as in various cities (i.e., some Canadian provinces, territories and cities have higher carpenter wages than others). The amount that a carpenter is paid in Canada is generally affected by location, employer, experience, skills, how many hours are worked and other factors.
Can I move to Canada as an unskilled worker?
It is possible to move to Canada as an ‘unskilled’ worker with a Canadian temporary work permit. Unskilled or low-skilled foreign workers will generally need to receive a qualifying Canadian job offer and then the employer will normally need to apply for and receive a favorable (approved) Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada before the temporary work permit can be applied for. The unskilled foreign worker will need to satisfy the good character and other criteria, as well as pay the governmental fee(s) necessary to receive a Canadian work permit and visa.
How can I migrate to Canada as unskilled?
There are jobs in Canada available to skilled and unskilled foreign workers who have the necessary Canadian visa and/or work permit. An ‘unskilled’ or low-skilled foreign worker will basically need to get a valid job offer from an authorized employer in Canada; the Canadian employer will generally need to apply for and receive a favorable/approved Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada; and then the foreign worker will need to apply for and be issued a temporary work permit and/or visa for Canada.
