How chefs go to Canada

Chefs are among the top ten Canadian professions with high chances of immigration. They are much more likely to be invited through Express Entry.

In 2019, more than 2,600 chefs and chefs came to Canada through Express Entry. And that's not counting people who immigrated through other programs.

In this article, we'll look at:

the demand for the profession;
average wages;
possible places of employment;
appropriate immigration programs and requirements for chefs;
examples of current vacancies.

Employment prospects

The Canadian foodservice industry is a $90 billion industry and the fourth largest employer in the private sector. It employs 1.3 million people (7% of the total Canadian workforce).

Canada is a multicultural country. Cuisines from all over the world are represented here: Middle Eastern, Mexican, Indian, Chinese and many others. That is why chefs are in high demand all over the country. There are more than 230 thousand of them and more than 60 thousand chefs. Most of the catering establishments are concentrated in big cities, which are full of tourists all year round in addition to locals. These are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Regina. By the way, in the latter three cities, chefs are paid 10% more on average.

In Canada, it is not common to cook food at home: few families do so, and most are used to eating ready-made meals because they work hard or don't want to spend the time to buy groceries and prepare them. 40% of Canadians said they eat out, and 54% do so at least once a week. There are a lot of home-delivery companies in Canada. They offer a huge variety of meals and convenient service.

Before Canada, like the rest of the world, was hit by the coronavirus epidemic, many restaurant employers were claiming a severe shortage of chefs, claiming they could not manage without immigrants. According to Statistics Canada, there were 67,370 food service jobs vacancies at the end of 2019. The industry association Restaurants Canada said the biggest worker shortages were in Quebec, British Columbia and parts of Atlantic Canada.

One of the most popular Canadian cities among tourists around the world, Montreal, has also experienced a lack of employees in the restaurant sector. Montreal has always been a place for foodies, with world-class chefs working in this city. And that's why both newcomers and experienced professionals are always needed here.

Nova Scotia restaurants also need immigrants to fill vacancies. Nearly two-thirds of restaurants reported difficulty finding staff in 2019. Meanwhile, restaurants in the province employ more than 30,000 people. Catering establishments are an important part of the regional economy.

Now the Canadian catering industry is in a vulnerable position. Alas, not all entrepreneurs will withstand the blow of the coronavirus. And while the government is helping to maintain wages, pay rent and provide interest-free loans, experts estimate that 18% of restaurants in Canada will close in May. Many have switched to takeout and delivery, but that option isn't successfully firing for all establishments. True, as early as this week, Canada lifted some of the quarantine restrictions that apply to, among other things, restaurants.