Claresholm Announces Priority Sectors and Occupations for New PR Pathway

Claresholm, a small but strategically located town in Southern Alberta, has announced its priority sectors and occupations under the newly launched Rural Community Immigration Pilot. The program covers a 25-kilometre boundary, including Granum and Stavely. It aims to address the labor shortages and promote economic growth in the region. 

The RCIP is employer-driven, which means that foreign nationals should get a job offer from a designated employer. They should also obtain a community endorsement to apply for permanent residency. The RCIP gives local communities the power to shape and structure their workforce needs.

Each community that is participating can nominate five priority sectors based on local economic demands. The selection made by Claresholm reflects its focus on attracting skilled workers who can make meaningful contributions to the long-term development of the town. This localized approach not only fills labor gaps but also supports a deeper community integration. This also makes it a promising opportunity for both employers and prospective immigrants.

Claresholm’s Priority Sectors and Occupations

Claresholm has identified five key sectors that are important to its current and future work needs. The town has selected a range of occupations that are aligned with the Canadian NOC system. 
 

For the year 2025, Claresholm has allocated 30 PR slots under the RCIP. To ensure there is equal access and manage demand, the town will distribute three slots per month. It will also reserve any remaining allocations for the end of the year. A cap has been set on the sales and service sector, and it will not receive more than five allocations throughout the year. This will make sure that more critical labor gaps in sectors such as healthcare and Manufacturing will be prioritized. 

Significance of the Priority Sectors and Occupations

The aspiring immigrants should understand Claresholm’s priority sectors. Only employers within these approved sectors can look for destinations under the RCIP. As a consequence of this, any foreigner interested in immigrating to Claresholm should secure employment with a designated business operating within one of these sectors and occupations.

Also, applicants who are potential should meet the federal eligibility criteria. These include relevant work experience, the appropriate level of education, proficiency in English or French, and sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their family once arriving in the country.

The strategic selection of occupations in fields such as Healthcare and manufacturing underlines the emphasis made by the community on sustainable infrastructure and essential services. For example, the addition of tradespeople and aerospace-related occupations shows that there is an increasing demand for skilled technicians and engineering professionals. All these professions are possibly linked to the local industries or the regional development projects.

About the RCIP

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), launched in 2025, is a five-year federal initiative. This program is aimed at helping rural Canadian communities manage labor shortages by attracting skilled foreign workers. The following communities, including the listed below are participating in the RCIP and FCIP. 

• Timmins
• Brandon
• Sault Ste. Marie
• Thunder Bay
• North Okanagan-Shuswap and
• North Bay.

Fourteen communities, including the above, will be participating. These communities play an important role in selecting priority employers and sectors, as this will ensure the program meets local needs. The RCIP supports regional growth, supports businesses, and strengthens small towns that will face population decline and challenges in their workforce.