Yenmek Verdict: Strong fit for healthcare workers, construction trades & those with an NB job offer
The lowest rents of any province in Canada, a CLB 4 language threshold, and an aging workforce creating long-term demand. But 2025 brought a 50% cut to provincial nomination spots — strategy matters more than ever.
~$1,248
Avg. 1BR rent/mo
CLB 4
Min. language (Skilled Worker)
2,750
2025 nomination spots
6.6%
Unemployment (late 2025)
2025 Update: New Brunswick's provincial allocation was cut to 2,750 total spots this year (1,500 NBPNP + 1,250 AIP), down from 5,000 in 2024. The NBPNP Skilled Worker stream now runs as three focused pathways. Talk to us before applying — the right pathway depends entirely on your current status and occupation.
The short answer: if you work in healthcare or construction trades, speak English at a moderate level, and can secure a genuine New Brunswick job offer, this is one of the most accessible provinces left in Canada for 2025. If you're applying without a job offer and rely purely on Express Entry score, the picture is more competitive than it used to be.
★ Yenmek's Verdict — 2025
New Brunswick is the most affordable province to land in. Average one-bedroom rent across the province is around $1,250/month — roughly half of Toronto, and noticeably below Alberta's major cities too. The NBPNP Skilled Worker stream's CLB 4 language requirement is the lowest of any major PNP stream, opening doors for candidates who can't yet hit CLB 7 for federal Express Entry. The trade-off: New Brunswick's 2025 nomination allocation was cut roughly in half, to 2,750 total spots, and several occupations (notably retail, food service, and some admin roles) are now excluded from EOI consideration. The Atlantic Immigration Program remains a strong backup route if you land the right employer.
Affordability
★★★★★
Lowest average rents in Canada
Healthcare & Trades Demand
★★★★★
Aging workforce drives sustained openings
NBPNP Accessibility (2025)
★★★☆☆
Reduced allocation — job offer strongly preferred
Language Flexibility
★★★★★
CLB 4 minimum for most Skilled Worker occupations
New Brunswick's biggest structural advantage is its population age profile: workers aged 55+ made up 44.1% of the workforce in 2023 and are projected to reach 46.4% by 2033. That means healthcare, education, and skilled trades will keep generating replacement demand for at least the next decade — regardless of short-term PNP allocation swings.
The catch for 2025 is allocation, not opportunity. New Brunswick received 5,000 nomination spots in 2024 but only 2,750 in 2025 (1,500 NBPNP + 1,250 AIP) after a federal-wide 50% cut to provincial nominee programs. The province has responded by tightening its EOI pool — certain NOC codes in retail, food service, and administrative support are currently excluded — while prioritizing healthcare and construction trades.
New Brunswick is right for you if…
You work in healthcare (nursing, PSW, lab tech) or construction trades
Your CLB/CELPIP score is between 4 and 6 — too low for federal Express Entry alone
Minimizing rent and housing cost matters more to you than maximum salary
You have, or can realistically get, a job offer from a New Brunswick employer (NBPNP or AIP)
Consider another province if…
You're in retail, food service, or general administrative roles (currently excluded from many NBPNP EOIs)
Maximizing salary is your top priority (Alberta or Ontario pay significantly more)
You have no NB job offer and a high CRS score — federal Express Entry alone may serve you better
Immigration Pathways
NBPNP & AIP: Your Routes to New Brunswick PR
New Brunswick offers permanent residency through two complementary programs: the provincial NBPNP, and the federal Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile — effectively guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply at the next federal draw.
01
NB Skilled Worker — New Brunswick Experience
Already Working in NB
For temporary foreign workers or international graduates already working in New Brunswick who have built up local experience. Your time in the province strengthens your application and demonstrates settlement intent — one of the most direct routes if you're on an LMIA-backed work permit or post-graduation work permit in NB.
Valid NB work permit + current employment
Minimum CLB 4 (most TEER 3–5 occupations)
Ongoing full-time job offer required
02
NB Skilled Worker — New Brunswick Employment
Job Offer Required
For candidates outside Canada or outside New Brunswick with a genuine, permanent, full-time job offer from an eligible NB employer. This is the pathway most often used by applicants overseas who connect with an employer directly through job boards like NBJobs.ca or via a recruiter. The low CLB 4 requirement makes this accessible to candidates who couldn't qualify for federal Express Entry.
Genuine job offer from designated NB employer
CLB 4 minimum in English or French
Excludes some retail, food service & admin NOC codes (2025)
03
NB Skilled Worker — Priority Occupations
Targeted Draws
Periodic, occupation-specific draws focused on the sectors New Brunswick says it cannot fill locally — overwhelmingly healthcare and construction trades. The March 2025 draw under this and the New Brunswick Experience pathway combined issued 498 ITAs. These draws move faster and have less competition than general Express Entry-aligned streams.
Registered nurses, LPNs, PSWs, medical lab techs
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders
No cut-off score announced for recent draws
04
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Federal — No LMIA
A federal program (separate from NBPNP) that lets designated New Brunswick employers hire foreign workers directly for permanent residency — no labour market impact assessment needed. For 2025, New Brunswick received roughly 1,250 AIP endorsement spots. If NBPNP draws are paused or your occupation is excluded, the right AIP employer is often the fastest realistic route.
Job offer from a designated AIP employer
Individualized settlement plan required
~1,250 endorsement spots allocated for 2025
NBPNP Strategy — Yenmek's Advice for 2025
If you're in healthcare or construction trades: this is your year to apply. The Priority Occupations pathway is specifically built for you, and competition is lower than general streams. If you're outside Canada with no job offer: secure a New Brunswick Employment offer first — it's the most reliable lever you control given the reduced allocation. If your occupation is currently excluded from NBPNP EOIs (retail, food service, admin): look at AIP-designated employers or build CRS score for federal Express Entry instead. Because eligibility lists and draw frequency change throughout 2025, call us before submitting an EOI — timing and pathway choice matter enormously this year.
Jobs & Wages
What work pays in New Brunswick
New Brunswick's labour market closed out 2025 on a strong note — 5,500 jobs added in November alone, pulling unemployment down to 6.6%. Healthcare and construction trades dominate the in-demand list, driven by an aging workforce and a housing construction boom.
OccupationAvg. WageDemand
Registered Nurse
NOC 31301 · TEER 1
$40–$55/hr
Very High
Licensed Practical Nurse
NOC 32101 · TEER 2
$28–$36/hr
Very High
Personal Support Worker
NOC 44101 · TEER 4
$18–$24/hr
Very High
Electrician (Construction)
NOC 72200 · TEER 2
$28–$40/hr
High
Carpenter
NOC 72310 · TEER 2
$24–$34/hr
High
Welder
NOC 72106 · TEER 2
$22–$32/hr
High
Construction Trades Helper
NOC 75110 · TEER 5
~$37,050/yr
High
Long-Haul Truck Driver
NOC 73300 · TEER 3
$22–$30/hr
High
Cook
NOC 63200 · TEER 3
~$29,835/yr
Moderate
Source: Government of Canada Job Bank (New Brunswick Economic Scan & wage reports), NBJobs.ca Labour Market Outlook 2025. Ranges reflect entry-level to experienced workers and may vary by region.
Bilingualism pays. Many New Brunswick healthcare roles — especially with Vitalité Health Network, which serves the province's French-speaking population — offer a bilingualism bonus on top of base wage. Registered nurses fluent in both English and French are particularly sought after and tend to have an easier time qualifying under Priority Occupations draws.
Major employers to know: Horizon Health Network (12,000+ staff, English-majority regions), Vitalité Health Network (10,000+ staff, French-majority regions), Irving Oil, and Cooke Inc. (seafood/aquaculture). All four are active recruiters of internationally trained workers.
Cost of Living
What does life in New Brunswick actually cost?
New Brunswick's defining advantage is housing. Province-wide average rent sits around $1,250/month for a one-bedroom — the lowest of any Canadian province — though rents have been rising quickly in 2025 due to record-low vacancy rates.
Average rent by city (2025)
CityStudio1-Bed2-Bed
Moncton
Largest city · fastest-growing CMA
~$835
~$1,250
~$1,400
Fredericton
Capital · public sector & IT
~$905
~$1,350
~$1,500
Saint John
Port city · energy & manufacturing
~$756
~$1,150
~$1,250
NB Average
All markets combined
~$1,077
~$1,248
~$1,480
Sources: Apartments.com Rent Market Trends (NB, July 2025), pvtistes.net Atlantic Canada cost-of-living chapter. Rents rising 4–6% year-over-year due to low vacancy rates.
New Brunswick vs Ontario vs Alberta
New Brunswick ★
1BR Rent / mo~$1,248
vs national avg.-8%
Min. wage$15.65/hr
Provincial tax9.4–19.5%
Avg. home price~$297,500
Toronto, Ontario
1BR Rent / mo$2,400–2,800
vs national avg.Well above
Min. wage$17.20/hr
Provincial taxUp to 13.16%
Avg. home price$1.08M
Calgary, Alberta
1BR Rent / mo$1,800–2,200
vs national avg.Above
Min. wage$15.00/hr
Provincial tax0%
Avg. home price~$580K
Bottom Line on Affordability
New Brunswick wins decisively on rent: a 1-bedroom in Moncton or Saint John costs roughly half of what the same unit would cost in Toronto, and noticeably less than Calgary too. The trade-off is New Brunswick's provincial income tax (9.4%–19.5%), which eats into the savings Alberta workers get from 0% provincial tax. For a single income earner in healthcare or trades, New Brunswick's rent savings generally outweigh the higher tax bracket — especially in your first 2–3 years while saving for a down payment.
Where to Live
Moncton vs Fredericton vs Saint John — which city?
Moncton
Pop. ~98K city / ~188K metro · fastest-growing CMA in Canada
"Hub City" — central transport & logistics hub for the Maritimes
Bilingual environment — strong for French/English speakers
Largest immigrant community in NB — easiest social landing
Healthcare, retail distribution, and trades hiring
Best for: newcomers wanting community & services
Fredericton
Provincial capital · government & IT hub
Strong public sector + growing IT/tech employment
University of New Brunswick — research & education jobs
Highest rents in the province (still well below Toronto)
Smaller, quieter city — good for families
Best for: government, education, IT professionals
Saint John
Port city · energy, manufacturing & shipbuilding
Cheapest rents of NB's three major cities
Irving Oil refinery & major industrial employers
High demand for electricians, welders, pipefitters
Coastal city on the Bay of Fundy
Best for: industrial trades, energy sector workers
New Brunswick Immigration FAQ
Questions we get about New Brunswick
For the NB Skilled Worker — New Brunswick Employment pathway and for the Atlantic Immigration Program, yes — a genuine, full-time job offer from an eligible employer is mandatory. For the New Brunswick Experience pathway, you also need an ongoing job offer, but your existing NB work history strengthens the application. The Priority Occupations pathway and Express Entry-aligned routes may not require a job offer, but having one significantly improves your chances, especially in 2025's reduced-allocation environment.
New Brunswick was allocated 2,750 total provincial immigration spots for 2025 — 1,500 through the NBPNP and 1,250 through the Atlantic Immigration Program. This is down from roughly 5,000 spots in 2024, reflecting a federal-wide 50% reduction in PNP nomination targets announced in October 2024.
The NB Skilled Worker stream requires a minimum CLB 4 in English or French for most occupations — significantly lower than the CLB 7 required for the federal Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program. IELTS, CELPIP, and TEF Canada are all accepted.
As of 2025, the NBPNP is not considering Expressions of Interest for certain NOC codes in retail, food service, and administrative support occupations, as the province focuses its reduced allocation on higher-priority sectors — primarily healthcare and construction trades. Exclusion lists can change during the year, so verify current eligibility before submitting an EOI.
Yes. A spouse or common-law partner can typically apply for an Open Work Permit based on your work permit, and dependent children can attend New Brunswick public schools. When you apply for permanent residency through NBPNP nomination or AIP, your spouse and dependent children are included in the same PR application.
New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province, with a large Francophone (Acadian) population concentrated in the north and east. Bilingual candidates — especially in healthcare with Vitalité Health Network — often have an advantage in both job offers and PNP draws, and may qualify for bilingualism pay bonuses.
New Brunswick at a Glance
CapitalFredericton
Largest CityMoncton
Official LanguagesEN & FR
PNP ProgramNBPNP + AIP
2025 Spots2,750
Min. LanguageCLB 4 ★
Avg. 1BR Rent~$1,248/mo
Min. Wage$15.65/hr
Unemployment6.6%
Immigration Ratings
Affordability
5/5
Healthcare & Trades Demand
5/5
NBPNP Accessibility (2025)
3/5
Quality of Life
4/5
Ready to start your New Brunswick journey?
Yenmek handles NBPNP and AIP applications end-to-end. Book a free 30-min consultation.
New Brunswick sounds right. Let's confirm it's right for you.
Every immigration case is different — and 2025's reduced NBPNP allocation makes pathway choice critical. Book a free consultation and we'll check your NOC code, CRS score, and NBPNP/AIP eligibility — then tell you the exact steps to take.
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