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Religious leaders

Occupation · NOC 2021 41302 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
41302
TEER
1
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
63
Median wage, Canada
C$27.53 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
57
NOC41302TEER 1
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANRELIGIOUS<LEADERS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
413020<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

About this occupation

Religious leaders conduct religious services, administer the rites of a religious faith or denomination, provide spiritual and moral guidance and perform other functions associated with the practice of a religion. They perform these duties in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship. They may also work in other institutions such as schools, hospitals and correctional facilities.

Example job titles

  • archbishop
  • bishop
  • cardinal
  • chaplain
  • evangelist
  • granthi
  • imam
  • minister
  • moderator - religion
  • pastor
  • priest
  • rabbi

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Conduct regular religious services
  • Administer rites of faiths such as marriages and funerals
  • Pray and promote spirituality by delivering sermons and other talks
  • Provide spiritual and moral guidance to members of a religious faith
  • Supervise, plan and administer programs of religious education
  • May participate in humanitarian endeavours and delivery of social services and welfare activities
  • May share in the administrative and financial operation of a religious community
  • May provide consultation services to government and other organizations.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of college, university or other program in religious studies is usually required. Some occupations in this unit group may require a master's of divinity or theology.
  • A period of study with a senior minister is usually required.
Source: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification 2021 Version 1.0. Statistics Canada Open LicenceData as at NOC 2021 v1.0

Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)

Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.

Approved positions by year

14282016201720182019202220232025
14282016201820222025
Data table
201628
201718
20181
20194
20222
20236
20254
By province or territory
  1. Ontario28
  2. Alberta16
  3. British Columbia12
  4. Quebec4
  5. New Brunswick1
  6. Manitoba1
  7. Saskatchewan1
Employers with the most positions
  1. Christ Embassy Christian Centre5
  2. GOSPEL OUTREACH MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL COMPASSION HOUSE3
  3. Edmonton Japanese (Nikkei) Christian Church2
  4. Ontario Conference SDA Church2
  5. Headway School Society of Alberta2
  6. Canadian Society of Peace & Relief2
  7. Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity1
  8. Ghanaian Presbyterian Church Toronto1
  9. Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural1
  10. Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada1
  11. Talbot Street Christian Reformed Church1
  12. The City Church International1
  13. The Korean Bethel Evangelical Church1
  14. Toronto Holystone Church1
  15. Bethal United Reformed Church1
By stream
  1. High-wage stream (TFWP)17
  2. LMIA for permanent residence only15
  3. Low-wage stream (TFWP)3
Source: ESDC, Temporary Foreign Worker Program: employers who received positive and negative LMIAs (June 2014 – 2026 Q1). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2026 Q1

Work permits

Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
20260845
20250755
20240680
20230670
20220640
20210690
20200455
20190490
20180355
20170290
20160190
2015095

All work permits by year

423845201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
4238452015201720192021202320252026
Data table
201595
2016190
2017290
2018355
2019490
2020455
2021690
2022640
2023670
2024680
2025755
2026845
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (values rounded to the nearest 5; 1–4 suppressed). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at Jun 2026

Permanent residence

Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).

New permanent residents by year

80160201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
801602015201720192021202320252026
Data table
201535
201640
201735
201835
201950
202015
2021160
202240
202330
202420
20255
20265
Express Entry invitations since 2015, by programme
  1. Canadian Experience Class645
  2. Provincial Nominee Program65
  3. Federal Skilled Worker20
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (values rounded to the nearest 5; 1–4 suppressed). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at Jun 2026

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$17.31C$27.53C$44.07
AlbertaC$19.23C$26.25C$44.07
British ColumbiaC$17.85C$30.00C$39.42
ManitobaC$16.00C$24.62C$33.65
New BrunswickC$15.65C$24.04C$33.42
Newfoundland and LabradorC$16.00C$23.56C$31.00
Nova ScotiaC$16.50C$25.39C$40.87
OntarioC$18.46C$28.85C$57.69
QuebecC$16.83C$23.08C$35.90
SaskatchewanC$15.38C$26.67C$38.46
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
57
Vacancies advertised
94
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$30.00
Source: ESDC, Wages by occupation and economic region (2025 release). Open Government Licence – Canada; ESDC, Job Bank job postings, January–September 2026. Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 24 Oct 2026

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more