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Religion workers

Occupation · NOC 2021 42204 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
42204
TEER
2
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
57
Median wage, Canada
C$20.19 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
23
NOC42204TEER 2
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANRELIGION<WORKERS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
422048<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

About this occupation

Religion workers include brothers, nuns, monks, religious education workers and others who provide support to ministers of religion or to a religious community and who perform certain functions associated with the practice of a religion. They may perform these duties in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship; in institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons; or in industrial facilities, corporate enterprises; or they may work in private practice.

Example job titles

  • brother/sister - religion
  • Christian science practitioner
  • deacon
  • missionary
  • monk
  • nun
  • pastoral animator
  • religious education worker
  • Salvation Army field worker

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Assist at services of public worship and religious rites
  • Provide religious education, spiritual guidance and moral support to members of a religious community
  • Conduct outreach activities and facilitate community involvement
  • Administer programs providing food, clothing and shelter
  • May plan, organize and lead worship services and church activities for a specific audience.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of college, university or other program in religious studies may be required, depending on the particular occupation and religion.
  • There may be other employment requirements depending on the particular occupation and religion.
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

1223201620172018201920202021202220232024
122320162018202020222024
Data table
201623
20176
20181
20196
20207
20213
20224
20234
20243
By province or territory
  1. Ontario25
  2. British Columbia14
  3. Alberta11
  4. Saskatchewan4
  5. Quebec3
Employers with the most positions
  1. Rehoboth Reformed School Society5
  2. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada Inc.4
  3. Church of God in Christ Mennonite-Endeavour Congregation Inc.4
  4. Solid Rock Baptist Church of Alberta2
  5. Tenrikyo Konohana Joyous Mission Centre Society2
  6. Calvin Christian School of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation2
  7. Maha Ganapathy Society of Alberta2
  8. Alfajrul Bassem Academy2
  9. Shri Durga Bhamashwari Mandir Society2
  10. ÉGLISE CITÉ ÉVANGÉLIQUE DE L'ESPÉRANCE2
  11. Archdioces of Toronto1
  12. OPERATION MOBILIZATION CANADA1
  13. OUR LADY'S MISSIONARIES1
  14. The Church Of The Virgin Mary And St. Athanasius1
  15. Toronto Mizpah Presbyterian Church1
By stream
  1. Low-wage stream (TFWP)18
  2. High-wage stream (TFWP)14
  3. LMIA for permanent residence only2
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
202601,270
202501,020
202401,390
202301,180
20220900
20210695
20200655
201901,265
20180915
20170910
20160780
20150535

All work permits by year

6951,390201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
6951,3902015201720192021202320252026
Data table
2015535
2016780
2017910
2018915
20191,265
2020655
2021695
2022900
20231,180
20241,390
20251,020
20261,270
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

6813520152016201720182019202020212022
6813520152017201920212022
Data table
201510
201615
20175
201820
201945
202025
2021135
202215
Express Entry invitations since 2015, by programme
  1. Canadian Experience Class440
  2. Provincial Nominee Program60
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$15.00C$20.19C$37.61
AlbertaC$17.47C$24.68C$34.64
British ColumbiaC$17.85C$19.96C$25.00
ManitobaC$16.00C$22.42C$32.14
New BrunswickC$16.62C$23.31C$32.33
Nova ScotiaC$17.35C$24.80C$32.59
OntarioC$17.60C$21.00C$36.00
QuebecC$18.00C$25.00C$43.54
SaskatchewanC$15.35C$20.46C$31.58
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
23
Vacancies advertised
37
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$21.00
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