Claresholm RCIP Priority Sectors, Occupations, and Employers for 2026
Claresholm has updated its list of priority sectors, occupations, and designated employers for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) for 2026. Foreign nationals with a job offer in a priority sector or occupation from a designated Claresholm employer can pursue permanent residence through this pathway if they meet all eligibility requirements.
The town of Claresholm, located in southern Alberta, is part of the RCIP with a boundary that includes Granum and Stavely. The town has 30 allocations for the RCIP in 2026, with three allocations issued per month. Intake periods run from the first of each month to the second last Tuesday of the month.
Priority Sectors in 2026
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- Health
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- Manufacturing and utilities
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- Trades, transport, and equipment operators
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- Education, law, social, community, and government services
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- Natural resources and agriculture
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- Sales and service
Claresholm assigns more points to individuals with a job offer in higher priority sectors. Sales and service sector has a limit of six allocations this year. The addition of Trades, transport, and equipment operators is new for 2026.
Priority Occupations in 2026
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- Administrative assistants
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- Administrative officers
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- Aerospace engineers
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- Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors
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- Aircraft assemblers and inspectors
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- Carpenters
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- Chemical technologists and technicians
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- Concrete finishers
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- Contractors and supervisors in construction trades
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- Cooks
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- Engineering managers
Laborers in food and beverage processing
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- Licensed practical nurses
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- Machining tool operators
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- Meat cutters and fishmongers
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- Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
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- Nurse aides and orderlies
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- Occupational health and safety specialists
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- Other trades helpers and laborers
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- Process control and machine operators
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- Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses
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- Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
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- Supervisors in furniture and fixtures manufacturing
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- Woodworking machine operators
Only workers with job offers in specific NOCs listed above receive points under Claresholm’s RCIP. Foreign nationals must ensure their job offer wage aligns with the Job Bank wage range for that occupation or above it.
Claresholm is no longer prioritizing eight occupations in 2026, indicating shifting regional labor priorities with new sectors taking precedence. The list of designated employers can be found on Claresholm’s RCIP web page.
About the Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Claresholm: Foreign nationals seeking consideration under the RCIP must secure a job offer from a designated employer in a priority sector or occupation. The employer then recommends the worker to the community.
