Key Stats & Summary
-
Nova Scotia’s PNP allocation rises to 3,709 nominations, up 559 spots after federal reversal.
-
There are about 2,200 PR eligible jobs in Nova Scotia as per QuestJobs research.
-
New allotments for 2026 will be announced in the upcoming federal Immigration Levels Plan.
AIP Nova Scotia Jobs
Lead Customer Service | Circle K
Technician | VistaCare
Compliance Analyst | Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia’s Immigration Boost Reverses Earlier Cuts
After months of pressure from provincial governments and business groups, Ottawa is reversing course on earlier reductions to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). At a Halifax press conference, Federal Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that Nova Scotia will receive a “significant” increase to its 2025 allocation, following a period of deep cuts that had strained the province’s labour supply.
The province’s allocation had been reduced at the start of the year — from 3,570 to 1,785 under the PNP — and its total immigration capacity (including the Atlantic Immigration Program) fell from 6,300 in 2024 to 3,150 in 2025. Industry leaders, including the Construction Association of Nova Scotia, called the decision “short-sighted,” warning it would worsen shortages in skilled trades and construction. The federal government has now partially restored those slots, bringing Nova Scotia’s new total to 3,709.
National Pressure from Provinces Yields Change
Minister Diab said that every province and territory requested higher allocations during last week’s federal-provincial immigration forum. The late-year boost comes after Ottawa’s national reduction slashed the total PNP allotment in half — from 110,000 nominees in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025.
Diab told The Canadian Press that the adjustment became possible due to “slippage” in other federal immigration targets, which allowed her office to re-allocate unused spaces to the provinces. She emphasized that while her overall mandate is to reduce total immigration levels, it remains essential to support provinces facing urgent labour gaps, especially in health care, construction, and service sectors.
The restored quotas are good news for Nova Scotia employers — especially those companies included in the QuestJobs’ PR-eligible listings under AIP and PNP streams. With 35,000+ PR-eligible jobs across Canada, QuestJobs currently tracks over 1,500 positions under AIP and more than 1000 under Nova Scotia’s PNP and related pathways.
For job seekers, this increase signals that the province is once again open to skilled newcomers across multiple sectors. Employers can resume nominations and sponsorships, while foreign workers can apply for permanent residency with improved chances of selection under Nova Scotia’s renewed PNP capacity.
What’s Next
Updated 2026 allocations are expected in the forthcoming Federal Immigration Levels Plan, which will outline the next phase of PNP and AIP targets. Minister Diab said provinces will continue working with Ottawa on a framework that balances population growth, labour needs, and infrastructure capacity.
For newcomers and employers alike, the message is clear,
Nova Scotia’s immigration doors are reopening — and the momentum toward skilled, employer-driven immigration is back on track.
To take advantage of this increased allocation, make sure to create a trial account at QuestJobs. The portal currently covers 22 different PR Pathways across Canada.