As we reach the midpoint of 2025, it’s an ideal time to assess how the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has performed from January through June. The OINP remains one of Canada’s largest and most dynamic Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), offering multiple streams for skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs. This review examines:
- Total Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued
- Top‑performing streams
- Most‑invited NOC occupations
- Leading communities
- Outlook for July – December 2025
Total ITAs Issued (Jan – Jun 2025)
From January 1 through June 30, 2025, Ontario issued 15,320 Invitations to Apply under the OINP across all streams. This represents a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2024 .
| Month | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| January | 2,450 |
| February | 2,640 |
| March | 2,870 |
| April | 2,300 |
| May | 2,550 |
| June | 2,510 |
| Total | 15,320 |
Source: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – Draw Results January–June 2025
Top‑Performing OINP Streams
Among OINP’s six economic streams, three dominated the mid‑year ITA totals:
| Stream | ITAs Issued | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 6,120 | 40.0% |
| Human Capital Priorities (HCP) | 4,050 | 26.5% |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 2,740 | 17.9% |
| Human Capital Priorities: French‑speaking (French HCP) | 610 | 4.0% |
| Employer Job Offer: In‑Demand Skills (Tech, Hospitality) | 960 | 6.3% |
| Entrepreneur Stream | 840 | 5.5% |
| Total | 15,320 | 100.0% |
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (40%)
Skilled workers with permanent job offers from Ontario employers led the way, reflecting strong labour‑market demand across sectors. This pathway currently has almost 2500 PR eligible jobs as per QuestJobs.
Human Capital Priorities (HCP) (26.5%)
Aligned with Express Entry, this stream invited candidates with CRS scores of 400+ and in‑demand NOCs.
Employer Job Offer: International Student (17.9%)
Recent Ontario graduates securing job offers saw robust ITA numbers, underscoring the province’s focus on retaining local talent. Most of invitations for ISS were given to applicants from Eastern On. These communities are Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa. (source)
Most‑Invited NOC Occupations
Analysis of HCP and Employer‑driven streams reveals the following top 10 NOC codes by ITA count:
| NOC Code | Occupation | ITAs |
|---|---|---|
| 3012 | Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses | 1,150 |
| 42101 | University Professors and Lecturers | 820 |
| 7511 | Transport Truck Drivers | 740 |
| 2173 | Software Engineers and Designers | 710 |
| 3233 | Licensed Practical Nurses | 625 |
| 11100 | Financial Auditors and Accountants | 590 |
| 22100 | Medical Laboratory Technologists | 510 |
| 64201 | Retail Salespersons | 480 |
| 67100 | Food Counter Attendants and Kitchen Helpers | 445 |
| 42202 | Early Childhood Educators and Assistants | 430 |
Registered Nurses (NOC 3012) top the list, reflecting Ontario’s ongoing healthcare staffing needs.
Software Engineers (NOC 2173) and IT-related occupations underscore the province’s push to attract tech talent.
Source: Ontario Immigration – HCP Draw Report April 9 2025
Leading Communities by ITA Volume
While Ontario does not publicly disclose exact municipal counts per draw, regional patterns emerge from local program offices:
| Community | Estimated ITAs* |
|---|---|
| Toronto CMA | 3,800 |
| Ottawa CMA | 2,100 |
| Hamilton CMA | 1,450 |
| Windsor–Essex | 1,200 |
| Kitchener–Waterloo | 1,050 |
*Estimated based on regional employer sponsorship data and municipal reports.
- Toronto CMA leads due to its economic diversity and high number of designated employers.
- Ottawa and Hamilton benefit from strong public‑sector and manufacturing hiring.
Outlook: July – December 2025
Potential Trends and Risks
- Federal PNP Allocation Stability - The Immigration Levels Plan 2025–27 maintains Ontario’s PNP target at 25,000 new PRs annually. This suggests sustained ITA volumes for H2.
- Express Entry Synchronization - Expect more Human Capital Priorities draws aligned with Federal Express Entry patterns, focusing on tech and healthcare.
- New Streams & Pilot Projects - Ontario is piloting a Rural & Northern Immigration stream in late 2025, potentially adding 1,000 nominations to smaller communities.
- Economic Fluctuations - A potential economic slowdown could prompt more Employer Job Offer draws to support local businesses.
- Entrepreneur Stream Adjustments - Strong interest in the Entrepreneur Stream may lead to higher eligibility thresholds or processing time reductions.
How QuestJobs Supports OINP Candidates
QuestJobs have helped skilled professionals and international graduates navigate the OINP
- Streamlined Job Matching: Over 5,000 PR‑eligible jobs in Ontario, including healthcare, IT, finance, and trades.
- Municipal Insights: Data‑driven guidance on employer‑supported communities and demand sectors through newsletters.
Explore Ontario Careers: QuestJobs Ontario Opportunities