In 2025, the Province of New Brunswick significantly updated its immigration system, which operates through the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream within the NBPNP program.
The main goal of these changes is to increase transparency and process control, ensure better alignment between local labour market needs and candidate profiles, and focus resources on the most in-demand occupational categories.
This material provides a comprehensive analysis of key updates, NOC restrictions, and draw results for August–September 2025, as well as practical recommendations for applicants.
- Three Pathways of the Skilled Worker Stream in 2025
Starting from 2025, the program is structured into three distinct pathways, each with its own specific conditions and target audience:
- New Brunswick Experience
Designed for candidates who are already working in the province.
Conditions:
- Full-time, non-seasonal employment with a local employer;
- At least 6 months of continuous work experience with the same employer;
- Actual residence in the province for the past 6 months.
Purpose:
To retain specialists who have already integrated into New Brunswick’s labour market and society.
- New Brunswick Graduates
For graduates of provincial educational institutions.
Conditions:
- Completion of a study program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) eligible for a PGWP;
- Having a job or job offer from an employer in New Brunswick;
- The job must be full-time and non-seasonal.
Purpose:
To retain young professionals who obtained their education in the province and are already adapted to life in Canada.
- New Brunswick Priority Occupations
For candidates who obtained employment as a result of official government recruitment missions.
Conditions:
- Full-time and non-seasonal employment;
- NOC must be included in the approved list of priority occupations;
- At least 1 year of relevant paid work experience.
Important: In 2025, ImmigrationNB has temporarily suspended the intake of EOIs under this pathway.
- Occupations Not Considered in 2025
Another important update was the publication of a list of occupations for which applications are not accepted. This applies even if the candidate already has employment or a job offer in New Brunswick.
Occupation | NOC |
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers | 12200 |
Administrative assistants | 13110 |
Shippers and receivers | 14400 |
Retail and wholesale trade managers | 60020 |
Restaurant and food service managers | 60030 |
Retail sales supervisors | 62010 |
Food service supervisors | 62020 |
Cooks | 63200 |
Bakers | 63202 |
Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers | 64100 |
Bartenders | 64301 |
Hotel front desk clerks | 64314 |
Other customer representatives | 64409 |
Food and beverage servers | 65200 |
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related occupations | 65201 |
Fish and seafood plant workers | 94142 |
Labourers in food and beverage processing | 95106 |
Labourers in fish and seafood | 95107 |
Practical implication: This means that even with stable employment in these fields, candidates cannot be selected under the Skilled Worker Stream.
- Draw Results for August–September 2025
The results of the latest draws confirm that the province actively targets sectors most in need of support, while simultaneously setting clear NOC exclusions.
Stream | Target Categories | Excluded NOCs | Number of Invitations |
NB Skilled Worker – NB Experience Stream | Healthcare, education, social services, construction | 42201, 75101 | 481 |
NB Skilled Worker – NB Graduates Stream | All sectors | 42201, 62200, 75101 | 389 |
NB Skilled Worker – NB Experience Stream (Francophone) | Francophone candidates, all sectors | 42201, 62200, 75101 | 132 |
NB Express Entry – Employment in NB Stream | All sectors | 42201, 62200 | 50 |
🔹 In August 2025, New Brunswick issued 1052 invitations.
🔹 Since the beginning of the year, a total of 3067 invitations have been issued.
- How the EOI System Works in New Brunswick
- All submitted EOIs remain in the pool for 365 days.
- Selection does not follow the “first come – first served” principle.
- ImmigrationNB conducts scheduled draws, considering quotas, labour market needs, and strategic priorities.
- Candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) only if they meet current selection criteria.
Results of Draws in August–September 2025
Stream | Target Categories | Excluded NOC Codes | Cut-off Score | Number of Invitations |
NB Skilled Worker – NB Experience Stream | Healthcare, education, social services, construction | 42201, 75101 | Not disclosed | 481 |
NB Skilled Worker – NB Graduates Stream | All sectors | 42201, 62200, 75101 | Not disclosed | 389 |
NB Skilled Worker – NB Experience Stream (Francophone) | Francophone candidates, all sectors | 42201, 62200, 75101 | Not disclosed | 132 |
NB Express Entry – Employment in NB Stream | All sectors | 42201, 62200 | Not disclosed | 50 |
- 🔹 In August 2025, New Brunswick issued a total of 1,052 invitations.
🔹 Since the beginning of 2025, the province has issued 3,067 invitations.
Conclusions
The model implemented by New Brunswick in 2025 aims to optimize candidate selection and create conditions for long-term economic growth in the province.
Key Takeaways:
- Focus on priority sectors: healthcare, education, social services, and construction.
- Clear NOC exclusions: the list of ineligible occupations helps prevent overloading the system with low-priority applications.
- Flexible draws: the number of ITAs changes according to current labour needs, while Francophone candidates receive additional opportunities.
- Requirement for applicants: carefully verify your NOC, align with the province’s long-term priorities, and apply only if you fully meet the requirements.
