Most immigrants to New Brunswick obtain permanent residency through economic immigration programmes, thus understanding which jobs are in great demand in the province is a vital step in emigrating to it.

Economic immigration programmes contributed for 84.3 percent of all new permanent immigrants to New Brunswick in 2019, the final full year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Canada.

Even during the epidemic, 82.6 percent of the 3,190 new permanent residents to the province entered through economic immigration schemes in the first nine months of this year.

COVID-19 and the public health regulations that accompanied it, on the other hand, had a significant impact on the province’s economy, resulting in downturns in certain industries and improvements in others.

According to TD economists Beata Caranci, Derek Burleton, Rishi Sondhi, and Omar Abdelrahman’s latest provincial outlook, the province will have witnessed real GDP growth of 3.6 percent by the end of this year and will be prepared to increase its economy by 2.6 percent next year.

“The province has lost jobs for four straight months since May (by September this year),” they noted in their provincial economic forecast.

“Worse, these losses appear to have been widespread, with employment currently falling below April levels in ten of the sixteen industries.” Indeed, if it hadn’t been for the surge in public-sector hiring during the same time period, performance would have been substantially worse.”

Despite certain industry downturns, consumer confidence in New Brunswick remained high long into the early summer, with favourable trends in retail purchases and restaurant spending.

According to the economists, “higher frequency measures… also hint to sustained resilience in consumer involvement.” “New Brunswick has just announced a vaccination passport system for non-essential treatments, joining other provinces.” This action, along with a high immunization rate, could pave the way for a hiring rebound.”

This year, New Brunswick’s export and manufacturing sales increased the most year over year of any Canadian province. Fuel demand is also driving up the province’s petroleum sales.

“Meanwhile, after many years of record gains, the resale and homebuilding markets are likely to contribute favourably to 2021 growth… (and)… “Non-residential investment looks to be reviving, with permits increasing this year,” write the economists.

As New Brunswick rebuilds its economy in anticipation of a post-COVID-19 scenario, there is a need for workers in a variety of industries.

The following are the top 5 in-demand jobs in New Brunswick.

1. Nurses (NOC 3012)

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses offer direct nursing care to patients, as well as health education programmes and consultation services on nursing-related concerns.

Indeed, in early December, there were 268 unfilled posts for nurses in New Brunswick, as the COVID-19 outbreak increased demand for nurses across the province.

The typical annual income for the occupation is $77,160 based on a 37.5-hour work week, with top wage earners in New Brunswick earning up to $87,750 in the port city of Saint John.

2. Delivery and Courier Service Drivers (NOC 7514)

These are the individuals that pick up and deliver things for dairies, drug stores, newspaper distributors, take-out restaurants, dry cleaners, mobile caterers, courier and messenger service firms, and so on.

Most internet buyers recognise these individuals as those who deliver items purchased on eBay and Amazon to their houses. This year’s employment surge for these professionals was fueled by the internet shopping boom and the rise of Amazon in Canada.

In early December, there were 165 delivery driver positions available in New Brunswick, according to Indeed.

The position offers a median annual salary of $33,735 based on a typical work week in New Brunswick, although top workers may earn up to $52,494 per year.

3. Physicians – Family (NOC 3112) and Specialists (3111)

Indeed posted 70 vacancies for family doctors and specialists in New Brunswick in early December.

Family physicians and general practitioners diagnose and treat illnesses, physiological abnormalities, and accidents. They earn a typical yearly income of $180,291 in New Brunswick, but can earn as much as $324,415.

Specialists, which include surgeons, diagnose and treat illnesses as well as physiological or behavioural issues, and they serve as advisors to other physicians.

A specialist in New Brunswick earns a typical yearly salary of $284,626 but can earn up to $528,100.

4. Financial and Investment Analysts (NOC 1112)

Financial and investment analysts provide expert advice to their employers or clients by collecting and analysing financial information such as economic forecasts, trading volumes and capital movement, company financial backgrounds, historical performance and future trends of stocks, bonds, and other investment instruments.

Indeed offered 47 vacancies for financial and investment analysts in New Brunswick in early December. According to Job Bank, there will be a 600-person shortage of these specialists to fill vacant opportunities in Canada during the next six years.

They earn a typical annual income of $61,190 in New Brunswick, but can earn as much as $88,062 depending on a regular 37.5-hour work week.

5. Administrative Assistants (NOC 1241)

Administrative assistants prepare, key in, edit, and proofread mail, invoices, presentations, brochures, publications, reports, and other related material from machine dictation and handwritten copy.

They also process and distribute incoming mail and other material, coordinate information flow with other departments and organisations, and arrange and confirm appointments and meetings for their employers.

The Indeed employment website showed 112 of these opportunities in New Brunswick in early December, and demand is projected to continue strong as firms reopen and work-from-home arrangements become more popular as a result of COVID-19.

Administrative assistants make a median annual pay of $40,014 in New Brunswick, based on a 37.5-hour work week, with salaries at the top end of the range reaching $56,570 per year.