Yeah, I'm pretty confused now that I read the official federal government site. I suggest you contact a lawyer if you want a definitive answer.
But my reading of it:
- If you do not have a job offer, you must fall under a listed shortage occupation (i.e., not the entirety of the Type 0, A, and B lists).
- If you do have a job offer (a good enough job offer, at that) in a Type 0, A, or B occupation, you do not need to be in a shortage class.
This makes some logical sense. If you don't have a guaranteed job coming into Canada, it makes sense for the government to ensure you are in a shortage occupation to maximize your odds of actually being employed.
But my reading of it:
- If you do not have a job offer, you must fall under a listed shortage occupation (i.e., not the entirety of the Type 0, A, and B lists).
- If you do have a job offer (a good enough job offer, at that) in a Type 0, A, or B occupation, you do not need to be in a shortage class.
This makes some logical sense. If you don't have a guaranteed job coming into Canada, it makes sense for the government to ensure you are in a shortage occupation to maximize your odds of actually being employed.