Every other article in this series eventually says the same thing: the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot only works if one of six specific employers puts you forward. So the real question most candidates actually have isn't "am I eligible", it's "how do I get one of these six companies to notice me?" This article focuses entirely on that.
The Six Employers and What They Actually Hire For
| Employer | Industry | Typical Roles to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Cooke Aquaculture Inc. | Seafood / aquaculture | Fish farm technicians, processing plant workers, hatchery staff, maintenance/mechanical trades |
| Groupe Savoie Inc. | Forestry / lumber products | Sawmill operators, production workers, quality control, equipment operators |
| Groupe Westco | Poultry / food processing | Processing line workers, food safety/quality staff, plant maintenance |
| Imperial Manufacturing Group | Manufacturing (metal/HVAC products) | Machine operators, welders, fabrication and assembly staff |
| J.D. Irving, Limited | Forestry, transportation, manufacturing (large diversified employer) | A very wide range: truck drivers, mill workers, tradespeople, logistics, manufacturing staff |
| McCain Foods | Food processing (frozen foods) | Production line workers, food processing technicians, plant maintenance, quality assurance |
J.D. Irving is by far the largest and most diversified of the six, meaning it likely has the widest range of open roles at any given time across multiple divisions and locations.
Where to Actually Look
- Each company's own careers page. All six are large enough to run their own careers site with regularly updated postings, this is the single most reliable source, more reliable than third-party job boards which can be outdated.
- Job Bank (Canada's official government job board). Canada's national Job Bank frequently lists positions from employers who are actively engaged with provincial nomination programs, since a documented, genuine recruitment effort is part of what nomination programs check for.
- LinkedIn. Search each company by name directly and follow their page; recruiters at large Atlantic Canada employers actively use LinkedIn for hard-to-fill technical and trades roles.
- New Brunswick-focused recruitment agencies. Some staffing agencies specialize specifically in placing international candidates with New Brunswick's larger industrial employers.
What Makes a Candidate Attractive to These Employers
Because these employers are taking on real settlement obligations (housing help, transportation, up to 200 hours of language training) for every worker they nominate, they're not just looking at your resume, they're assessing whether you're a low-risk, high-retention hire. In practice, that means:
- Directly relevant, provable experience. A resume that clearly maps to their actual production/technical processes stands out far more than a generalist resume.
- Demonstrated language ability, even informally, before you've taken a formal test. Being able to communicate clearly in an interview matters.
- Realistic expectations about location and lifestyle. New Brunswick's larger employers are often based in smaller towns and rural areas, not major cities. Candidates who show genuine willingness to relocate and settle long-term (not just "get to Canada any way possible") tend to be viewed more favourably, since the province explicitly screens for "genuine intent to reside."
- Flexibility on start roles. Being open to starting in an entry-level production or line role, even if you have more advanced experience, can be the fastest way in the door; promotion paths often follow once you're established.
A Realistic Timeline for the Job-Search Stage
Landing a genuine offer from one of these six employers, especially from outside Canada, typically isn't instant. Expect a process of weeks to a few months: application, screening (often including a video interview), reference checks, and confirmation of your eligibility basics (age, language, education) before an employer commits to putting you through the EOI/ITA process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to more than one of the six employers at once? There's no rule against applying to multiple employers, and it can be a reasonable strategy given how competitive and limited this pilot is. Just be transparent if asked, and be prepared to choose one path once an offer becomes real.
Do these employers sponsor candidates who are already on a different Canadian visa? Some pilot coverage notes flexibility for candidates already living and working in New Brunswick. If you're already in Canada on a different status, raise this directly with the employer's HR or recruitment team.
What if none of the six employers are hiring right now? Keep monitoring, since large employers with seasonal production cycles (especially in food processing and aquaculture) often have recurring hiring waves. In the meantime, New Brunswick's other PNP streams, covered elsewhere in this series, may be more immediately accessible.
Where These Employers Actually Operate
Understanding the geography matters, since several of these employers are based in smaller New Brunswick towns rather than major cities, and that affects both job availability and what settling in will actually feel like:
| Employer | Main New Brunswick Region |
|---|---|
| Cooke Aquaculture Inc. | Blacks Harbour and coastal Charlotte County, southwestern New Brunswick |
| Groupe Savoie Inc. | Saint-Quentin and northern New Brunswick |
| Groupe Westco | Rogersville and surrounding areas |
| Imperial Manufacturing Group | Richibucto and southeastern New Brunswick |
| J.D. Irving, Limited | Saint John (headquarters) and operations across the province |
| McCain Foods | Florenceville-Bristol (global headquarters) and surrounding Carleton County |
Most of these are small towns or rural communities, not Moncton, Saint John, or Fredericton proper. That's not a downside for everyone, cost of living is typically lower, and several of these towns have established newcomer communities from earlier waves of international recruitment, but it's worth going in with accurate expectations rather than assuming big-city amenities.
Interview Preparation Tips
Because these employers are effectively vetting candidates for a multi-year commitment (both to the job and to New Brunswick itself), interviews often go beyond standard technical questions. Be ready to speak clearly about:
- Why you specifically want to live in New Brunswick, not just "Canada" in general
- How your existing experience maps onto their actual production processes or operations
- Your realistic expectations about climate, community size, and rural or small-town life
- Your language ability, demonstrated naturally in conversation, not just through a test score
Red Flags to Watch For
Because this pilot is well-known and heavily searched by prospective immigrants, it has attracted attention from recruitment scammers who claim to offer guaranteed placement with one of the six employers for a fee. Some warning signs:
- Anyone asking for payment specifically to "guarantee" a job offer or nomination
- Recruiters who cannot be verified through the employer's own official careers page or HR department
- Pressure to pay before any genuine interview or written offer has occurred
Always verify a job offer's legitimacy by contacting the employer's official HR channel directly, using contact information from their own website, not from a third party.
Frequently Asked Questions (Continued)
Do these employers hire remotely, or only for on-site roles? Given the nature of aquaculture, food processing, forestry, and manufacturing work, the large majority of roles are on-site, though some coverage of the pilot notes flexibility for candidates already living in New Brunswick to continue remote arrangements in limited cases. Confirm directly with the specific employer.
Is there a way to contact Immigration New Brunswick to ask which employers are currently recruiting internationally? Yes, Immigration New Brunswick's general inquiries channels can often point candidates toward current recruitment activity, though the most reliable source remains each employer's own careers page.
Official Sources, Employers, and Wages in One Place
For the full list of official government sources, all 6 participating employers with real careers links, current Job Bank wage data, and how to tell a real opportunity from a scam, see NB Critical Worker Pilot: Official Sources, All 6 Employers, and Real Wage Data.
Sources
- NB Critical Workers Pilot - Government of New Brunswick
- New Pilot Immigration Program In New Brunswick Targets Hard-To-Fill Jobs
- Job Bank - Government of Canada
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not immigration, legal, or financial advice. Immigration rules, employer lists, and processing times change without notice. Always confirm current details directly with Immigration New Brunswick (INB) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), or a licensed Canadian immigration consultant/lawyer, before making any decisions.