- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued a public call for skilled tradespeople, including carpenters and plumbers, to fill labour gaps
- Canada's latest trades-category Express Entry draw invited 3,500 candidates at a CRS cut-off of 476, well below the general draw threshold
- Kenyan tradespeople with at least 12 months of eligible work experience could qualify for an Express Entry profile under the trades category
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Elijah Ntongai is an experienced editor at TUKO.co.ke, with more than four years in financial, business, labour and technology research and reporting. His work provides valuable insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.
Canada's immigration authority has issued an open call to skilled tradespeople worldwide, stating that the country urgently requires carpenters, plumbers, machinists and other construction workers to address persistent labour shortages slowing its housing and infrastructure programmes.
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made the announcement via its official X account, saying the country is actively seeking individuals with relevant training, credentials and experience.
The department directed interested workers to explore available immigration pathways, noting that qualified candidates can settle in communities across the country.
What trades Canada is seeking
IRCC's trades category under Express Entry covers roughly 25 occupations across construction, industrial and mechanical fields.
These include industrial and construction electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, bricklayers, steamfitters and pipefitters, alongside the carpenters and plumbers named in the public call.
Eligibility is assessed against the duties performed under Canada's National Occupational Classification system rather than the job title listed on a contract.
The call is backed by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Team Canada Strong initiative, announced in April 2026, which commits KSh 780 billion (USD 6 billion) to recruit, train and hire between 80,000 and 100,000 Red Seal trades workers over five years.
The programme includes paid placements, an apprenticeship service offering up to KSh 1.3 million (USD 10,000) toward a first-year salary and a KSh 649,000 (USD 5,000) bonus upon Red Seal certification.
Express Entry and what Kenyans need to qualify
For Kenyan tradespeople, the most accessible federal route runs through the Express Entry trades category.
The October 1, 2026 trades draw issued 3,500 invitations at a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 476, considerably lower than the 518 required in a Canadian Experience Class draw held two days earlier.
A similar draw on April 2, 2026 invited 3,000 candidates at a CRS score of 477.
To qualify, an applicant must hold at least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible trade within the previous three years. That experience can have been gained in Kenya or in any other country.
Candidates must also meet language requirements under whichever Express Entry programme they qualify through.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program sets the lowest threshold, requiring Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in speaking and listening, and CLB 4 in reading and writing.
A job offer is not mandatory under the trades category, though securing one adds CRS points.
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, which practically guarantees an invitation, and several provinces run trades-specific streams targeting carpenters, plumbers and electricians directly.
On earnings, Canadian Job Bank data for 2026 shows carpenters earning between KSh 3,238 and KSh 6,476 (CAD 25 to CAD 50) per hour, while plumbers earn a median of around KSh 4,402 (CAD 34) per hour, equivalent to roughly KSh 9.1 million (CAD 70,700) annually for full-time work.
Kenyan applicants are advised to confirm their duties align with an eligible NOC code, sit an approved language test such as IELTS General Training or CELPIP General, and create an Express Entry profile before the next trades draw opens.
IRCC has not confirmed the date of its next round but indicated that category-based draws will continue throughout the year.
Source: TUKO.co.ke