Effective December 17, 2024, the addition of education as a category in the list of eligible fields of study reflects the need to address labour market shortages in early childhood education in Canada and has come as welcome news to the sector.
“CBIE is pleased to see the addition of new eligible fields of study for the PGWP. Early childhood care was a glaring omission from the original list as it is a well-known area of labour shortage across regions,” Canadian Bureau for International Education president, Larissa Bezo, told The PIE News.
Specific education programs included in the category include early childhood education and teaching, childcare and support services management, childcare provider and teaching assistants.
The update follows an IRCC announcement in October 2024 introducing a new criteria for international students applying for a post-graduation work permit, outlining 966 eligible fields of study for college programs as well as new language requirements.
The initial list was divided into five broad categories reflecting Canada’s labour market needs across agriculture, healthcare, STEM, trade and transport.
“Given the long-term labour market shortages in childcare – and how international student graduates have long played an important role in addressing them – the PGWP updates are welcome,” immigration expert Matthew McDonald told The PIE.
“The same government that introduced its ambitious Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care framework should have ideally included these earlier. Thankfully, IRCC has in this case shown a willingness to listen to feedback and make corrections,” added McDonald.
Early childhood care was a glaring omission from the original list
Larissa Bezo, CBIE
The new PGWP requirements, which came into effect on November 1, 2024, apply to those graduating from college-level programs, with university students remaining exempt.
At the time of announcement, stakeholders commended the alignment of education with labour market demands but warned that the changes risked “decimating” the college sector and overlooked provincial demands.
The addition of new courses to the list is a welcome sign of collaboration between federal and provincial authorities after a fraught 2024 of repeated policy changes from the IRCC.
“We understand that IRCC is engaging directly with the provinces who are making the case for other additions to the list, and so we are hopeful to see further changes which will better reflect the very real labour market needs this country is facing at a regional level,” said Bezo.
Changes to the PGWP – which allows international students to work in Canada for up to three years after graduating – were driven by the IRCC’s overall goal of reducing temporary residents from 6.5% of Canada’s total population to 5% by 2026.
