About the Department

• Minister
• Vision
• Mandate
• Lines of Business
• Values
• Primary Clients
• Service Standards
• Branches and Divisions
• Agencies
• Legislation
• Contact Information

The Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills works to ensure the province has a diverse, highly educated and skilled workforce to meet evolving labour market demands. This includes creating a climate which is conducive to economic growth, competitiveness and prosperity. This is achieved through a range of services and supports including:

• increasing the recruitment and retention of immigrants and newcomers;
• promoting diversity and multiculturalism;
• helping employers with accessing and keeping skilled workers;
• offering career development and planning services as well as employment and training supports, and information about the labour market; and
• providing programs and supports for apprenticeship and trades certification.

Vision

A province with a diverse and growing population where citizens are educated, skilled, and supported to be gainfully employed.MandateThe mandate for the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills is to:

• work collaboratively with employers and communities to increase immigration and support population growth; and,
• help individuals to obtain the skilled trades, employment and training and financial supports needed to achieve the greatest benefit from current and future economic opportunities in the province.

Lines of Business

The Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills provides a range of programs and services to help grow the population and build a stronger economic foundation. Programs and services are grouped in the following areas:

• Immigration – nomination of eligible newcomers for permanent residency, engaging with employers and community stakeholders, delivering multiculturalism awareness activities, and providing recruitment and retention supports.
• Employment Supports and Career Services – career counseling, wage subsidies, apprenticeship and trades certification supports, job searches, pre-employment readiness, as well as training and skills development.
• Population Growth and Workforce Development – promoting the province as a workforce destination, supporting employers with recruitment, retention and human resource planning, providing workforce policy support, as well as supplying individuals with labour market information and trend analysis on labour market opportunities.
• Apprenticeship and Trades Certification – responsible for apprenticeship training and certification in the province, supporting individuals pursuing a career in skilled trades, and working with institutions delivering skilled trades training.

Values

Employees within the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills support the following values:

• Partnership – Employees are committed to building collaborative and constructive relationships with all stakeholders.
• Professionalism – Employees are highly trained and committed to providing quality services.
• Respect – Employees are committed to ensuring the views of others are clearly understood and represented in a fair, neutral, and dignified manner.
• Sustainability – Employees act in a way that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.

Primary Clients

The Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills currently serves several broad groups of clients:

• Immigrants, expatriates and newcomers
• Employers and employees
• Apprentices and tradespersons
• Individuals under-represented in the workforce
• Community organizations
• Sector groups and industry associations
• Governments and government agencies

Service Standards

Service standards are intended to describe wait times under normal circumstances. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, clients may experience slight delays in the programs and services described below.APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADES CERTIFICATION

• Class Calls for Block or Level Training – The first round of class call packages are mailed to apprentices 40 Business Days prior to the start of a training block and will continue until a minimum number of students are confirmed (usually 6 students).
• Exam Accommodations (Apprenticeship Supports) – Approval for the exam will be emailed within 5 Business Days of the completed application being received. An accommodated exam will be conducted within 20 Business Days of an apprentice completing block or level training.
• Exam Marking Process and Grade Release – Grades are released 10 Business Days after exam dates, by 4:00pm.
• Exam Rewrite Opportunities – Exam rewrites can be conducted 20 Business Days after the original exam writing date. An exam rewrite date will be scheduled within 15 Business Days of submission of a Rewrite Registration Form.
• Self-Study Program – Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division staff will send an email to the apprentice or trade qualifier, confirming registration for the selected counselling session date and time, within 5 Business Days of receipt of the completed Self-Study Program registration form.

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

• Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant – 20 Business Days, upon receipt of a complete application.
• Job Creation Partnerships (JCP) Projects and individual Supports – 25 Business Days, upon receipt of a complete application.
• JobsNL Wage Subsidy – 20 Business Days, upon receipt of a complete application.
• Skills Development – 20 Business Days, upon receipt of a complete application.

OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM

• Provincial Nominee Program – International Graduate – Upon receipt of a completed application for International Graduate, the department will notify the applicant of a decision within 25 Business Days.
• Provincial Nominee Program – Skilled Worker – Upon receipt of a completed application for Skilled Worker, the department will notify the applicant of a decision within 25 Business Days.

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