Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Plan: Where the PR Seats Actually Go 

Key stats & summary

• Annual PR target: 380,000 each year (2026–2028)

• Economic share: 60% of all PRs (the biggest slice)

• Approx. annual ranges within Economic Class:

  • Federal High-Skilled (Express Entry): 85,000–110,000

  • Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): 82,000–93,000

  • Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 4,000–4,500

  • Federal Economic Pilots (combined): 8,000–12,000

• There are 36,495 PNP sponsorship eligible jobs available at QuestJobs. 

Focus Streams

Federal High-Skilled (FHS) — a.k.a. Express Entry

What it is: Canada’s points-based system that ranks candidates via the CRS and invites the top profiles to apply for PR.
Programs under FHS:

• FSWP – Federal Skilled Worker Program

• CEC – Canadian Experience Class

• FSTP – Federal Skilled Trades Program
  Trend to watch: Ongoing category-based draws (e.g., French, healthcare, STEM, trades) that can favor certain skills even at moderate CRS.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

What it is: Provinces/territories nominate candidates to meet local labour gaps. Many streams require an employer job offer; Express Entry–aligned nominations add +600 CRS.
Why it matters: The second-largest economic block (and growing influence) — employers and provinces have more say over who gets PR.

PNPs across Canada (by province/territory):

British Columbia (BC PNP)

You will find two of the PNP's under BC PNP at QuestJobs. These are the BC Health Authority Stream and the BC PNP Skilled Worker Stream. BC Health currentlt has 1,740 PR eligible jobs, whereas BC PNP SWS has approximately 7,920 PR eligible jobs. In total, the portal has over 10,000 PR eligible jobs under the BC PNP. 

Alberta (AAIP)

The Alberta Rural Renewal Stream is one of the more popular PNP's in Alberta. Questjobs has identified 1,552 jobs eligible for sponsorship under the AB RRS. 

Saskatchewan (SINP)

Saskatchewan remains to be one of the less populated provinces in the country and less popular amongst international students, workers and foreign applicants. As such there could be less competition in this province in terms of PR seats. There are four different pathways in the portal under the SINP, these are the SK Tech Pathway, SK Health Pathway, SK International Skilled Worker and the SK Agriculture pathway. In total there are over 2,000 PR eligible jobs in SK as per QuestJObs records. 

Manitoba (MPNP)

You can search jobs under the Manitoba Skilled Worker - In Demand Occupations via QuestJobs. There are currently a total of almost 1400 PR eligible in Manitoba. This number increases on a daily basis. 

Ontario (OINP)

Ontario remains to be the province with the most PR eligible jobs across Canada as per QuestJobs research. The portal has two pathways in Ontario which are the Ontario Employer Offer: International Student Stream and the Ontario Employer Job Offer In Deomand Skills Stream. Theese two streams have a total of about 13,000 PR Eligible jobs in the portal. 

New Brunswick (NBPNP)

The portal has 3 pathways under the NBPNP. These pathways are the NB Critical Worker Program, NB Skilled Worker Experience Pathway, NB Skilled Worker - International Graduate. Overall there are more than 2,000 jobs in the portal under the NB PNP. 

Nova Scotia (NSNP)

Nova Scotia is the most advance economy in the Atlantic region. As such, it has the most jobs available for PR sponsorship. There are about 2,500 PR eligible jobs under the NS PNP. 

Prince Edward Island (PEI PNP)

PEI is part of the Atlantic Immigration Program. Applicants can find all the AIP jobs in the portal including AIP PEI. The portal has a total of 1,447 jobs under AIP. 

Newfoundland & Labrador (NLPNP)

NL is also part of the AIP and has its own PNP. One of the pathways under NL PNP is the NL Skilled Worker Stream. This stream has a total of 408 jobs eligible for sponsorship at the time of the writing of this article. 

Yukon (YNP)

Northwest Territories (NTNP)

Nunavut (no PNP)

Quebec (runs its own selection, not a PNP)

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

What it is: Employer-driven pathway for Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, NL, PEI). Employers must be designated; jobs are full-time, non-seasonal.
Annual range (approx.): 4,000–4,500 PR admissions.
Why it matters: If you land a designated Atlantic employer in a qualifying role, AIP can be one of the fastest, cleanest routes to PR.

Federal Economic Pilots (combined)

What they are: Time-limited or targeted programs that solve specific labour gaps or test new models. Examples (programs evolve):

• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) / community-based successors

• Agri-Food Pilot

• Caregiver pathways (when active in pilot form)

• Other sectoral or regional pilots that IRCC authorizes
  Annual range (approx.): 8,000–12,000.
  Why it matters: Niche but powerful if your occupation + region match the pilot’s focus.

What this means for candidates (the QuestJobs POV)

1. Pick your lane early. Decide if your strongest route is Express Entry (FHS), a PNP with employer backing, AIP (Atlantic job, designated employer), or a pilot (rural/agri-food/etc.).

2. Anchor to an employer. Employer-linked pathways (PNPs, AIP, pilots) are heavily favored. A real job in the right NOC and province beats a generic high CRS in many cases.

3. Target provinces, not just jobs. Provinces publish priority sectors/NOCs—aim your search there.

4. Make your résumé PR-ready. ATS-clean, NOC-aligned keywords, Canadian format, wage/skill match to program rules.

5. If you’re in Atlantic Canada, use AIP. It’s small in volume but very program-efficient when you meet the employer and role rules.

Quick FAQs

Is Quebec part of PNP?
No. Quebec has its own selection system and targets (separate from PNP).

Do I need an Express Entry profile for PNP?
Some streams are EE-aligned (you’ll need a profile); others are base PNP (apply directly to the province, then to IRCC).

Are AIP jobs seasonal?
No. AIP requires full-time, non-seasonal roles with designated employers.