Nova Scotia spending millions to attract and settle global healthcare and construction workers

By CityNews Halifax Staff

The Nova Scotia government has announced it will fund an additional three million dollars to help attract and settle internationally trained healthcare and construction professionals.

The province made the announcement last Friday in an effort to bolster efforts to attract and retain trained international professionals.

According to government, in 2023, 763 healthcare professionals and 244 construction professionals were among the 6,830 applicants approved through immigration programs for the year.

The province says Nova Scotia’s six-year rolling retention rate is the highest in Atlantic Canada at 70 per cent.

The province says the $3-million will be used to enhance english language training, dedicate settlement supports for healthcare workers, and support growing the francophone population.

In 2023, the top five countries of origin for immigrants to the province were from India, Philippines, China, Nigeria and South Korea.