P.E.I. Gains 575 More PR Nominations as Labour Shortages and Wage Strains Deepen

Focus on Labour Shortages and International Graduates 

Teresa Tu, acting senior operations manager with P.E.I.’s Office of Immigration, says the added nominations will be directed toward sectors facing persistent labour shortages, as well as recent international graduates from the Island’s institutions – UPEI, Holland College, and Collège de l’Île. 

The message was straightforward, that students who come to P.E.I. to study should have a fair opportunity to begin their careers here and continue contributing to the community. It’s a practical stance, especially as many smaller provinces rely heavily on retaining students who already understand the local culture and job market.  

Communication Gaps Surface in the Construction Sector 

Despite the overall positive development, not everyone received the news in a timely way. Some industry groups only learned about the increase in November. 

Sam Sanderson, director of the Construction Association of P.E.I., was candid about the issue. With demand for skilled trades at historic highs, emphasising that both provincial and federal governments need to engage industry leaders more directly, especially if immigration is being positioned as a strategy to support the workforce. 

The construction sector is still trying to build local capacity, but the flow of new graduates remains modest. Recruiting internationally is part of the solution, but the concern is that planning becomes difficult when information doesn’t reach employers early enough. 

Health-Care Providers Signal Ongoing Need for Workers 

The health-care system is experiencing similar pressure. William McGuigan, chair of the Nursing Home Association of P.E.I., noted that immigration remains essential as the province expands long-term care capacity while serving an aging population. Highlighting that without sustained immigration pathways, staffing shortages in critical care and long-term care will continue to produce strain across the system.

Wages Add Another Layer to the Labour Problem 

When you look at the broader context around P.E.I.’s labour market, it’s hard to separate the immigration discussion from the wage discussion. Earlier this year, CBC highlighted how many newcomers on the Island are working long hours for low pay, often juggling two jobs just to cover rent and basic expenses. Even with the province’s minimum wage moving from $16.00 to $16.50 and set to rise again next April to $17.00, many workers say the increases barely make a dent in their cost of living.  

At the same time, groups like CFIB warn that higher mandated wages can strain small businesses without necessarily improving productivity or job stability. They also note that even when hourly wages increase, take-home pay for low-income workers often rises only slightly once taxes and benefit clawbacks are applied. 

Against that backdrop, the reaction to P.E.I.’s expanded PR nominations feels more complicated. Some argue that P.E.I.’s construction trades wages are among the lowest in Canada and suggested that industry groups push for more immigration because it helps keep labour costs down rather than addressing wage issues. Others noted that contractors and developers benefit from population-driven housing demand, while employees don’t necessarily see higher earnings. The general sentiment was that bringing in more workers won’t fix underlying pay and housing pressures for tradespeople already living in P.E.I. 

A Step Forward, With Work Still Ahead 

The increased nomination space is undeniably helpful for the province. It supports employers who have been struggling to fill roles and offers stability to international graduates who want to stay. But the broader story is more complex. Labour shortages aren’t easing, and employers across sectors from construction to health care, still face challenges that won’t be solved by allocation increases alone. Workforce planning, training programs, and clearer communication all matter just as much as the nomination numbers themselves. 

Wages and affordability also remain part of that equation. Even with steady demand for workers, many positions in P.E.I. continue to offer pay that doesn’t keep pace with rising living costs or with the pressures facing newcomers and long-time residents alike. Unless those conditions improve, immigration can help fill vacancies, but it won’t resolve the underlying factors that make recruitment and retention so difficult. 

For now, P.E.I. has regained the immigration capacity it lost earlier in the year. How effectively those 1,600 spots are used – and whether the province addresses the wage and affordability issues tied to its labour market – will determine whether this adjustment becomes a short-term fix or a long-term turning point.