If you work with your hands, if you have spent years mastering a trade like welding, plumbing, or electrical work, you have something that Canada desperately needs. The good news is that skilled trades are one of the priority categories for Express Entry in 2026. But here is the catch. The list of eligible trades has changed significantly from previous years, and understanding what is in and what is out could make all the difference for your application.
Let me walk you through exactly which skilled trades jobs qualify for Express Entry right now and how to position yourself for success.
What Changed for Trades in 2026
The biggest news for skilled trades workers is what was removed. Cooks, which had dominated trade draws for years, have been taken off the eligible list . In previous years, cooks accounted for a huge percentage of invitations issued in trade draws. On a simulated draw of 2,000 invitations, cooks would have received over 1,100 invitations, while all other trades combined would have received around 400 -6.
That imbalance is now gone. The trade occupations category has been reshaped to focus on hands-on construction, industrial, and manufacturing trades -6. Butchers have been added to the trade category from the now-removed agriculture category . The minimum work experience requirement has also increased from six months to twelve months within the last three years, bringing trade category requirements in line with the Canadian Experience Class .
The Complete List of Eligible Trade Occupations for 2026
Here is the full list of skilled trades jobs that qualify for Express Entry under the trade occupations category. These are the occupations Canada is prioritizing for permanent residence draws.
Construction and Building Trades
- Bricklayers – NOC 72320
- Carpenters – NOC 72310
- Concrete finishers – NOC 73100
- Floor covering installers – NOC 73113
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) – NOC 73112
- Plumbers – NOC 72300
- Roofers and shinglers – NOC 73110
Electrical and Mechanical Trades
- Electricians (except industrial and power system) – NOC 72200
- Industrial electricians – NOC 72201
- Electrical mechanics – NOC 72422
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics – NOC 72400
- Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics – NOC 72402
- Gas fitters – NOC 72302
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – NOC 72401
Metalworking and Manufacturing Trades
- Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors – NOC 72100
- Sheet metal workers – NOC 72102
- Welders and related machine operators – NOC 72106
- Cabinetmakers – NOC 72311
Other Skilled Trades
- Construction estimators – NOC 22303
- Construction managers – NOC 70010
- Home building and renovation managers – NOC 70011
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services – NOC 82021
- Water well drillers – NOC 72501
- Other technical trades and related occupations – NOC 72999
Butchers – Newly Added for 2026
- Butchers – retail and wholesale – NOC 63201
What Was Removed
- Cooks – NOC 63200
- Chefs – NOC 62200
The Federal Skilled Trades Program: Your Dedicated Pathway
Beyond category-based draws, the Federal Skilled Trades Program remains a dedicated pathway for trade workers. To qualify for FSTP, you need at least two years of full-time skilled trade experience within the last five years . Your experience must fall under eligible skilled trade groups, which align with the categories above.
The language requirements for FSTP are more accessible than other programs. You need Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in speaking and listening, and CLB 4 in reading and writing . This reflects the practical nature of trade work, where hands-on skills often matter more than academic language ability.
A key requirement for FSTP is that you must have either a valid full-time job offer for at least one year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province or territory . This is different from the category-based draws, which only require work experience.
Work Experience Requirements You Need to Know
For the trade occupations category, you need at least twelve months of full-time work experience in a single eligible occupation within the last three years . The experience does not need to be continuous. If you worked as a welder for eight months, took time off, then worked another four months, that counts as long as it adds up to twelve months .
Your experience can be gained anywhere in the world. It does not need to be in Canada. The key is that your job duties must match the National Occupational Classification description for your trade .
How Trade Draws Work in 2026
Trade draws are separate from general Express Entry draws. When IRCC holds a trade category draw, they look at everyone in the Express Entry pool who has work experience in an eligible trade occupation. They rank those candidates by CRS score and invite the top-ranking ones.
The removal of cooks from the trade category is expected to significantly affect draw cutoffs. Previously, cooks had higher median CRS scores than many other trades, around 419 compared to 399 for other trades . With cooks removed, the pool of trade candidates will look very different, and cutoffs may shift.
As of early 2026, IRCC had not yet held a trade occupations draw, but they are expected to occur regularly throughout the year .
How to Position Yourself for a Trade Draw
If you work in an eligible trade, your strategy should focus on creating a strong Express Entry profile. Make sure your work experience is documented correctly. Your reference letters must detail your job duties in a way that matches the NOC description for your occupation.
Take your language tests seriously. While the requirements for FSTP are lower, stronger scores will improve your CRS score and make you more competitive in draws. Even moving from CLB 5 to CLB 6 can make a difference.
If you do not have Canadian work experience, do not worry. The trade category accepts foreign experience. Your skills from your home country are valued.
What About Provincial Nominee Programs?
Provinces across Canada are actively recruiting skilled trades workers through their own nominee programs. Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic provinces all have streams specifically for trades. A provincial nomination adds six hundred points to your CRS score, which guarantees an invitation in the next PNP draw.
If your CRS score is on the lower side, researching provincial programs is a smart strategy. Many provinces have lower thresholds for trades workers because the need is so urgent.
Final Thoughts for Skilled Trades Workers
Canada needs skilled trades workers. The 2026 changes to the trade occupations category reflect a deliberate shift toward prioritizing hands-on construction, industrial, and manufacturing trades. If you are a welder, electrician, plumber, carpenter, or machinist, you are exactly who Canada is looking for.
The removal of cooks from the category may seem like a small change, but it represents a significant shift in priorities. The government wants to build homes, maintain infrastructure, and keep industry running. Your skills are the answer to those needs.
Build your Express Entry profile. Document your experience carefully. Take your language tests. And if your score is not where you want it to be, look at provincial programs. Your trade is your ticket to Canada, and in 2026, that ticket is more valuable than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions About Skilled Trades Jobs and Express Entry
What skilled trades jobs qualify for Express Entry in 2026?
The list of eligible trades has changed significantly for 2026. Construction and building trades that qualify include bricklayers, carpenters, concrete finishers, floor covering installers, painters and decorators, plumbers, and roofers. Electrical and mechanical trades include electricians, industrial electricians, electrical mechanics, construction millwrights and industrial mechanics, heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, gas fitters, and heavy-duty equipment mechanics.
Metalworking and manufacturing trades include machinists, sheet metal workers, welders and related machine operators, and cabinetmakers. Other skilled trades include construction estimators, construction managers, home building and renovation managers, contractors and supervisors for oil and gas drilling, and water well drillers. Butchers have been added to the trade category for 2026.
The most notable removals are cooks and chefs. These occupations no longer qualify for the trade occupations category.
Why were cooks removed from the trade category?
Cooks were removed because they had been dominating trade draws for years. In previous years, cooks accounted for a huge percentage of invitations issued in trade draws. On a simulated draw of 2,000 invitations, cooks would have received over 1,100 invitations, while all other trades combined would have received around 400. The government shifted focus to hands-on construction, industrial, and manufacturing trades to better address labor shortages in those sectors.
Cooks can still apply through other pathways, including general Express Entry draws and provincial nominee programs. But they no longer benefit from dedicated trade category draws.
What is the work experience requirement for trade draws?
For the trade occupations category, you need at least twelve months of full-time work experience in a single eligible occupation within the last three years. This requirement increased from six months in 2026. The experience does not need to be continuous. If you worked for eight months, took time off, then worked another four months, that counts as long as it adds up to twelve months.
Your experience can be gained anywhere in the world. It does not need to be in Canada. The key is that your job duties must match the National Occupational Classification description for your trade.
What is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is one of the three programs managed through Express Entry. It is a dedicated pathway for skilled trades workers. To qualify, you need at least two years of full-time skilled trade experience within the last five years. Your experience must fall under eligible skilled trade groups.
The language requirements are more accessible than other programs. You need Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in speaking and listening, and CLB 4 in reading and writing. A key requirement is that you must have either a valid full-time job offer for at least one year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province or territory.