Provincial Nominees Selected Through Express Entry Earn More: What That Means for PNP Candidates

Key Takeaways

• Provincial nominees selected through Express Entry (enhanced provincial nominees) earned 19–34% more than base PNP nominees one year after arriving in Canada.
• Even after adjusting for differences in education, language, and work experience, enhanced nominees still earned 7–16% more.
• The share of PNP principal applicants coming through Express Entry has grown from about 21% in 2016 to nearly 38% in 2024.
• Employment rates were nearly identical between both groups.

Enhanced Versus Base Provincial Nominees

If you’re considering the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) as a route to permanent residence, you probably know there are two ways in: through the Express Entry system and directly through the provincial program. Both lead to the same result—a provincial nomination, but there are some key differences in the process.

What is a Base Provincial Nomination?

When a province nominates you directly through its own program, the nomination you receive is called a base provincial nomination. You don’t need an Express Entry profile for this.

The selection criteria are set by the province, and the application process varies by province as well. Some provincial nominee streams require applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) first, and only candidates who are chosen can apply for a provincial nomination.

Typically, PNP streams that aren’t delivered through Express Entry are designed to fill specific regional labour needs, including roles at medium- and lower-skill levels. Some examples of base streams include Ontario’s Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream and the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

What is an Enhanced Provincial Nomination?

When a province selects you under a PNP program delivered through the federal Express Entry system, like the BC PNP Skilled Worker Stream and Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities steam, the nomination you receive is called an enhanced provincial nomination.

In some cases, the province chooses Express Entry profiles from the pool and invites them to apply to the province for nomination. In other cases, candidates can apply to the province directly for a nomination and then submit their PR application through Express Entry, provided the PNP program is an EE stream.

Once nominated, you receive 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which effectively guarantees an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

However, to be in the Express Entry pool, you must also meet the minimum eligibility requirements for one of three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). That means you’ll have to meet certain minimum language ability, education, and skilled work experience criteria in addition to the provincial requirements.

The Key Difference Between Enhanced and Base Nominations

An enhanced nomination is for provincial nominee programs streams which are delivered through Express Entry and can get you 600 CRS points. On the other hand, base nominations are managed directly by the province, outside of the Express Entry system.

If you qualify for the enhanced route, it’s typically the faster and more straightforward option.

The Earnings Gap: 12% at the Three-Year Mark

The study tracked PNP principal applicants admitted between 2016 and 2024, using tax data.

Among those who arrived between 2016 and 2019, enhanced nominees earned an average of $62,100 in their first year after landing. Base nominees earned $52,300. That’s a gap of roughly $10,000.

For those who arrived between 2020 and 2022, the gap widened to nearly $18,000. Enhanced nominees earned $71,300, compared with $53,400 for base nominees.

The same pattern continued even three years after arrival. Enhanced nominees from the 2016–2019 cohort were earning $76,700. Base nominees were at $59,400.

The researchers also ran the data through a model that adjusted for education, age, language ability, intended occupation, prior Canadian experience, source region, and destination province. Even with those adjustments, enhanced nominees still earned 7–16% more one year after arrival, and 12% more at the three-year mark.

The advantage also applied to spouses and dependants. Spouses of enhanced nominees earned 21–31% more than spouses of base nominees in their first year, and 33% more three years after arrival.

That said, the results aren’t particularly surprising. Enhanced nominees are being chosen, at least in part, for their economic potential. On the other hand, base nominees are being chosen primarily to fill specific jobs, without emphasis on their long-term economic prospects and employability.

Employment Rates Were Nearly Identical

One thing that did not differ between the two groups was employment rates. Roughly 92–94% of both enhanced and base PNP nominees were working one year after arrival. Similar rates held at three years.

The PNP appears to be effective at getting nominees into the workforce regardless of which stream they come through. The difference between the two routes is not whether the nominees work. It’s what kind of work they end up in and what they earn.

Canadian Experience Didn’t Close the Gap

One finding did surprise us.

Base PNP nominees were far more likely to have previous Canadian work or study experience before becoming permanent residents. The study found that 85.6% of base nominees had held a Canadian work or study permit, compared with 65.8% for enhanced nominees.

If you’ve been working or studying in Canada, you might assume that experience would put you ahead in the labour market. In many cases, it does. But in this comparison, it wasn’t enough to close the earnings gap. Enhanced nominees, despite being less likely to have spent time in Canada before landing, still earned more.

What The Study Doesn’t Tell Us

The study only tracks whether someone held a work or study permit before becoming a permanent resident or not. It does not break down the group by type of Canadian education credential or skill level of their work experience.

That matters, because the two groups have very different occupational profiles. Nearly all enhanced nominees had intended occupations at the managerial, professional, or skilled and technical levels. The study notes that the top intended occupations for enhanced nominees were software developers and IT professionals. For base nominees, on the other hand, they were service supervisors and cooks, butchers, and bakers.

Many enhanced nominees meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the Canadian Experience Class, which requires skilled Canadian work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations. So, it’s not necessarily that enhanced nominees have less Canadian experience in absolute terms. It is more likely that those with higher-skilled Canadian experience are more likely to apply through Express Entry, while those with experience in lower-skilled occupations apply directly to the province.

The Real Takeaway

It’s not that Canadian education or experience doesn’t matter when it comes to your future earning potential. But the substance of that education or experience likely matters more than simply having spent time working or studying in Canada. That includes factors like:

• The NOC TEER of the occupation
• The seniority of the role
• The wages or salaries in the occupation
• The type of study program (degree, diploma, certificate)
• The level of Canadian education (doctoral, masters, undergraduate)
• The field of study

Provinces Used Enhanced and Base Nominations Unequally

In 2024, Ontario and British Columbia selected the majority of their PNP nominees through Express Entry — about 57% and 56% respectively. New Brunswick was at 41%.

Other provinces rely much more heavily on base nominations. Saskatchewan selected just 11% of its PNP nominees through Express Entry. Newfoundland and Labrador was at 8%.

This makes sense because some provinces offer more PNP streams that are delivered through Express Entry. These differences also reflect what each province needs. Some regions are looking for highly skilled and established professionals. Others need workers in roles that provincially delivered streams are specifically designed to fill.

What This Means if You’re Considering PNP

If you’re weighing your options, the findings are worth keeping in mind. Enhanced PNP nominees are being selected for their economic potential, and the data shows that screening process delivers results. If you qualify for both a base and enhanced pathway, the enhanced route is associated with stronger outcomes.

If you don’t yet qualify for Express Entry, this study is a reminder that the factors that get you into the Express Entry pool — strong language scores, a recognized credential, skilled work experience — are also the factors associated with higher earnings once you arrive.

Base PNP streams remain a valid and important pathway. They serve real labour market needs and offer permanent residence to candidates who may not meet the federal economic criteria.

If you’re considering moving to Canada as a student or worker, it is important to have a plan. The study program and occupation you pick will not only impact your ability to qualify for permanent residence through PNP, but also your long-term financial future.

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