Skilled Worker Visa in USA and Canada: 15 Best Opportunities for Foreigners 2025

The lack of skilled workers has been affecting the United States and Canada for more than a decade which is why provisions have been made to grant skilled worker visas in USA and Canada. 

However, this year, the situation is expected to worsen: on average, 11 million new jobs are created in the United States every month while Canada generates about 30,000 to 50,000 new jobs monthly due to its low population according to data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS).

“There are jobs available in virtually every field in the US and Canada that offer good pay, but there are not many qualified people in the country and, in some cases, not even interested in doing them. 

This shortage has been responsible for the increase in qualified immigrants in the country in the last decade, especially since 2010, during the period of expansion of Big Tech and professions in the STEM area. Without being able to count on their own workforce, Canada and the United States of America increasingly need foreign professionals.”

What explains the shortage of professionals in the USA & Canada?

Several factors help explain this scenario of need for foreign labor in the USA, according to Gondim. First, the overheated economy of the United States that quickly recovered from the effects of the pandemic. “The pent-up demand in 2020-2021 (height of COVID-19) resulted in an ‘explosion’ of new companies, startups and the arrival of thousands of foreign entrepreneurs and investors who decided to take their businesses to America.”

There is also a lack of interest among younger generations in studying and working in various professions that were previously coveted, says the lawyer. “Professionals such as airline pilots, doctors, and educators are not attracting as much young people. At the same time, many veteran professionals have retired (or were retired) during the pandemic.”

To make matters worse, according to the lawyer, globalization has allowed many American professionals who were leaders in their fields to migrate to other countries that offer better salaries and benefits, especially emerging countries in the Middle East, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

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Also, the shortage of professionals in Canada can equally be attributed to economic factors likewise structural factors. Below we’ve listed and explained some of the major reasons why we have such issues in Canada:

1. Aging Population and Retirements

Canada as a country currently has the highest aging population globally as far as industrialized nations are concerned. It has also been established that 1 in 5 Canadians is aged 65 or older based on the report from Statistics Canada, and there is no doubt this number is going to increase significantly over the next decade.

With this fact, there has been a huge wave of retirements in important professions like healthcare, skilled trades, education, and so on. Note that these professions are difficult to fill in within a short period of time.

2. Skill Mismatch

The issue of skill mismatch in Canada is also a thing, most job seeker’s skills don’t match the requested skill by the employers. There is no doubt that the tech industry, healthcare, construction, etc. experience growth but finding trained workers or adequately experienced workers is a big struggle.

3. Declining Interest in Certain Professions

Just like we have it in the U.S., some important professions in Canada, like the mentioned professions “healthcare, welders, plumbers, and teaching hardly attract the younger generation which makes it easy for younger talents to secure jobs in these lines of the profession but unfortunately, Canadians are not showing interest.

People do see such careers as too demanding basically because of the training duration, lesser growth opportunities and the work environment which may be so demanding.

4. Pandemic-Related Impact

Do not forget so soon that the COVID pandemic altered a lot in the career world which has caused a lot of sectors to experience unending shortages mostly in critical sectors like transportation and health.

Another factor that caused a shortage of professionals in the mentioned sectors is stress and burnout, this also caused many to retire early while some people got laid off but refused to resume.

5. Limited Domestic Workforce

Canada has low population growth and much attention is placed on immigrants which is why the country makes visa approval though proactive but a bit easier than other top countries as the country relies primarily on immigrants for its labor force. It takes time to integrate skilled immigrants in the Canadas workforce mostly because of language barriers, credentials and work experience.

6. Global Competition

There is a huge competition going on globally which the Canadians are also trying to tap into which is why Canadian professionals travel abroad to seek job opportunities in bigger companies and earn better salaries. Big jobs do come with mouthwatering opportunities like other benefits aside from salaries and the most preferred destination for Canadians is the United States or Europe where they can further advance in their career field.

7. Booming Sectors and Economic Growth

Economic growth in Canada can be seen in the tech industry, construction, renewable energy etc. Nevertheless, the experienced growth has however outpaced the original training systems likewise required education which is expected to produce the best and qualified professionals which indirectly results to shortages in the rapidly growing sectors mentioned.

Government and Industry Responses

In a bid to ameliorate the shortage of professional workers, some measures have been put in place by the Canadian government that will benefit immigrants to get a skilled worker visa in Canada which include:

• Immigration Programs: For example the Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), likewise some specific professional pathways for ICT, Tech and health workers which are specifically made to accommodate foreign skilled individuals.
• Training and Reskilling Initiatives: There has been a lot of investment into training of immigrants by private organizations and even the government so workers can be integrated into the system for fields that are demanding.
• Incentives for Youth Participation: Encouragement makes the younger generation perform better, there has been a lot of effort to ensure youths are well encouraged through incentives.

Opportunity for immigrants

The problem in the United States can be a great opportunity for qualified foreigners who want to legally contribute to the American job market. To attract these professionals, the US government makes annual quotas of green cards available to professionals who can demonstrate experience and successful careers and, in many cases, higher education.

The so-called EB (Employment-Based) visas are aimed precisely at this type of professional who will come to the US and help solve the problem of the lack of qualified labor, and can be granted based on extraordinary skills, steady job offers or investment capacity in the country. 

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Skilled Worker Visa in USA and Canada: 15 Best Opportunities for Foreigners 2025

1. Doctors

According to a statement from the American Medical Association (AMA) in October 2024, it is estimated that around 83 million people currently live in areas where there are not enough doctors to serve the population. The shortage of doctors ranges from general practitioners to the most varied specialties of the profession.

The association also reports that, due to the shortage of professionals, many of the doctors working in the country end up having to work double shifts, which has led many of them to exhaustion and resignation. In addition, the predominant age group among the medical class in the job market is 50 to 55 years old, which reflects the lack of interest or, in many cases, the lack of financial capacity of the younger generations to cover the high costs of training in medicine.

The main states that need doctors and that offer better salaries are: Florida, California, New Mexico, North Dakota, Arkansas, among others.

2. Nurses

The current nursing shortage in the US is estimated to reach 1.1 million professionals. “Especially between 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic, this shortage became even more evident, which even led the American government to ‘loosen’ some rules so that foreign nurses could migrate and work in the country”.

Even so, the need for nursing professionals continues to grow, largely due to the aging of American society. According to Drexel University, the states of California, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania are the ones that need nurses the most. California is also the region that offers the highest salaries for nurses, exceeding $100,000 per year.

3. Physiotherapists

As with most health care fields, there is little interest among younger people in training and working as physical therapists. “The aging of the American population makes this profession even more necessary, which has led many clinics and hospitals to hire immigrants who are qualified and have the necessary licenses to practice in the United States,” says Gondin.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reported that, by the end of 2022, the average number of physical therapists employed in large metropolitan areas is 57 professionals for every 100,000 inhabitants.

Well-qualified physical therapists can earn an average annual salary of over $100,000, depending on the region in which they work, with California, Nevada, New Jersey, Alaska and Connecticut offering the highest salaries, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Jobs of 2023.

4. Dentists

Just as we have it in Canada which is more lower, in the United States there are only 60 dentists per 100,000 people in the U.S., according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). “The shortage of dentists has been around for a long time, but it has intensified in the last 10 years, as many dental professionals have retired and fewer dentists have graduated and entered the workforce.” 

The average annual salary for a dentist is around $158,000 to $208,000, making the profession one of the highest paid in the country.

“However, foreign-trained dentists who wish to become licensed to practice in the United States should be aware that most U.S. states require a degree from a dental education program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA),” same goes for immigrants in Canada.

5. Engineers

The United States expects a shortage of six million engineers in the job market by 2026, according to a survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Several factors help explain the shortage of engineers in the US. First, the high costs involved in training in the profession. A full engineering degree can cost between $30,000 and $80,000 per year, depending on the US state in which the person studies. In addition, many American engineers have been seduced in recent years by irresistible financial offers from the Arab world, especially the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

“It is important to note that the shortage in engineering extends to all its subdivisions, including Civil Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Production Engineering and, above all, Oil and Gas Engineering. In regions such as Texas, which concentrate the main petrochemical companies and industries in the United States, the average income for engineers in this area is between 90 thousand and 190 thousand dollars per year, depending on the professional’s position and specialty,” says Gondin.

The diploma validation requirements for engineers vary according to the US state, but the lawyer emphasizes that almost always, the professional will need to prove that he or she has the knowledge and skills required for the role or, in some cases, take additional exams.

6. Pilots

Every year, more than 130,000 flights have been canceled in the United States since 2020 due to a lack of pilots, according to Gondin, who emphasizes that despite the country having the largest aviation market in the world, with 735,000 active pilots, the shortage of professionals has never been so great, and it is estimated that the country will need at least 150,000 new professionals in the next five years to avoid collapse.

Commercial airline pilots can earn annual incomes ranging from $99,000 to $200,000, according to the ATP Flight School – with Nevada, Florida, Alaska, Montana, Virginia and Texas being the states that need aviation professionals the most, says Gondin, who emphasizes that there are several requirements to be a pilot in the US.

“For a foreign pilot to work in the United States, they must meet some basic requirements, such as having completed pilot training, an American license to fly commercial or cargo aircraft, and experience as a pilot for a commercial airline for at least 5 years. Having more than 2,000 hours of piloting experience also helps considerably.”

7. Educators/Teachers

According to the Learning Policy Institute, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find teachers and educators in the United States, likewise in Canada. The main reasons given for this shortage include: low salaries, difficulties for older teachers in adapting to new technologies (distance learning), worsening student behavior in the classroom and increased politicization in schools and universities. Washington, Arizona, Indiana, California and Nevada are among the states with the greatest shortage of educators, says Gondin.

“For foreign educators who wish to work in the US, the main opportunities are in the fields of education for special children and language courses, with annual earnings that can vary from 60 to 90 thousand dollars, depending on the state and the professional’s specialization”, says the lawyer.

8. Technology/ICT

California, Texas and New York are the regions with the highest concentration of opportunities for IT professionals in the United States. Even so, the big tech companies and American corporations cannot find professionals in sufficient quantity and capacity to meet the demand of the market for developing new technologies, says Gondin. “The Department of Labor estimates that there will be 1.5 million job openings for IT professionals available by the end of this year.”

Of all the professional areas that are currently suffering from a shortage of professionals in the country, IT is by far the one that worries the US government the most, and which, consequently, offers the most opportunities for well-qualified immigrants. “Depending on the IT professional’s area of ​​specialization, annual incomes can range from $200 to $300 thousand per year,” says Gondin.

9. Logistics

With the lockdown caused during the pandemic, it became evident for the first time in history the great importance of professionals in the logistics sector (ports, air transport, road transport, etc.) who had to work hard to keep the flow of essential goods and services circulating. With the growth of product and food delivery services, as well as transport apps, a shortage of logistics professionals was also created, says Gondin.

“People working in this field are needed in every state in the United States, with annual salaries that can vary substantially depending on the type of service provided. Some of the highest-paid logistics professionals are truck drivers and logistics engineers, both earning more than $100,000 per year.”

10. Businessmen

The overheating of the American economy means that more foreign entrepreneurs are moving their businesses to the United States each year. However, there is still room and incentive for many entrepreneurs to come, since a number of services and commercial sectors are lacking in the country.

“Opportunities are in every state, and depending on where the entrepreneur decides to set up his company or buy a franchise, there may be assistance from various non-governmental agencies and trade associations that encourage new businesses, granting loans and, depending on the case, providing financial incentives and direct partnerships,” says the lawyer.

11. Hospitality and Tourism Professionals

After the pandemic recovering from it has seen a drastic decrease in the tourism and hospitality industry. There are shortages of professionals as chefs, event planners, hotel managers and generally in the tourism and hospitality sector.

12. Environmental Scientists

As there is more focus on sustainability and renewable energy in Canada and in the United States and the world in general, environmental professionals are increasingly sought after for example skilled professionals Climate Change Analysts, Environmental Engineers, Energy Auditors, etc.

13. Researchers and Academics

Research Institutions and also Canada’s Universities just like their United States counterparts are always seeking skilled academics and researchers, mostly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields but unfortunately, there has been a low record of professionals in this line of work which gives room for immigrants to take advantage of it.

14. Agricultural Workers

In Canada, agriculture is very important as the country has vast agricultural sector which mostly rely on foreign labor to operate effectively and yield great agricultural output. There is high recruitment of foreigners who apply as Agricultural Technicians, Farm Managers and also as Seasonal Laborers.

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15. Social Workers

There is always high demand for Social workers in every part of the world and USA and Canada won’t be an exception, what makes it more attractive is the fact that in Canada and USA professionals in this line of work get better pay compared to other countries as focus is placed more on the mental health of the citizens likewise family services and community development.

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