Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream: Closed in 2026

Labour Market Priorities was an Express Entry-linked stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Unlike most streams, you could not simply apply. Nova Scotia chose occupations or profiles it needed at a given time, searched the federal Express Entry pool for matching candidates, and sent them a Letter of Interest through their Express Entry account. Only people who received a letter could submit an application, and they had to do so by the deadline in the letter.

A nomination added 600 points to the person's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. A separate version of the stream, Labour Market Priorities for Physicians, worked the same way for doctors.

On February 18, 2026, Nova Scotia replaced its ten Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) streams with four: Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate, Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia: Express Entry. The Labour Market Priorities stream no longer exists as a separate stream. Its eligibility requirements now sit under the Nova Scotia: Express Entry stream.

The province says the new streams include sub-criteria that mirror the requirements of the old streams, and that the consolidation "does not affect your eligibility." In practice, that means:

• If you qualified for the Labour Market Priorities stream before, you should qualify under the new stream, as long as you still meet every requirement on the day you submit.
• The changes apply only to new expressions of interest (EOIs) submitted after February 18, 2026.
• EOIs already in the pool on that date remain active, and you do not need to do anything.
• The NSNP application portal was closed from February 13 to 18, 2026 while forms were updated.

Nova Scotia still uses the Express Entry pool to find people. As of September 2026, the province runs a Critical Vacancies initiative: some candidates receive a Notice of Interest in their Express Entry account and are directed to the province's Critical Vacancies page. Listed vacancies have included licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, construction and mechanic trade supervisors, welders, drywall finishers, automotive and heavy-duty equipment mechanics, machinists, and civil engineering technologists.

Be careful with the wording. The province says a Notice of Interest is not an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination or an Atlantic Immigration Program endorsement. You submit your details, Nova Scotia screens candidates and shares qualified people with employers, and if an employer hires you, you then apply through whichever pathway fits.

These messages come from the province through your Express Entry account. If someone offers to "get you" a letter for a fee, treat it as a red flag and read our scam protection guide.

Two other 2026 changes affect everyone in the NSNP pool, including people who applied under old stream names:

A closed or expired EOI is not a refusal. You can submit a new EOI at any time if you still meet the requirements. Selection is based on provincial priorities, not on the order EOIs arrive.

1. Keep your Express Entry profile accurate and active, including your occupation code, language scores and education. Nova Scotia searches can only find what your profile says. Our CRS guide explains how scores work.
2. If you have one year of skilled work in Nova Scotia, submit an EOI under Nova Scotia: Express Entry.
3. If you have a Nova Scotia job offer, look at the Skilled Worker stream or ask the employer about the Atlantic Immigration Program.
4. If you work in health care or the trades, watch for federal category-based draws, which may invite you without a nomination.