Healthcare and Skilled Trades – Where EB‑3 Demand Is Growing for Nigerians

Across Nigeria today, more and more families are looking outward. Rising living costs, limited job growth, and security concerns have pushed many professionals and workers to explore life abroad—not just for a short visit, but for long‑term stability.

For those aiming at the United States, the EB‑3 employment‑based immigrant visa has become an increasingly important route. It leads to a green card not only for the main worker, but also for their spouse and unmarried children under 21. Unlike student visas or temporary work permits, EB‑3 is built for permanent residency.

However, there is a crucial question every Nigerian must ask before chasing EB‑3:

“In which sectors is real demand for workers—and do my skills match them?”

The answer, more and more, is pointing clearly toward two big areas:

• Healthcare support and care work

• Skilled trades and practical, hands‑on roles

  
  

This article explores why these sectors are so important for EB‑3, what kinds of jobs U.S. employers are struggling to fill, and how Nigerians can prepare themselves to take advantage of these long‑term opportunities in a safe, legal way.

A Quick Reminder: What Is EB‑3?

EB‑3 is an employment‑based immigrant category for foreign workers. It has three main groups:

• Professionals: Jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).

• Skilled workers: Jobs requiring at least 2 years of training or work experience.

• Other workers (unskilled): Jobs requiring less than 2 years of training or experience.

In all cases, a U.S. employer must:

• Offer you a permanent, full‑time job.

• Prove to the U.S. Department of Labor that there aren’t enough available U.S. workers to fill that role.

• Sponsor you through the official process (PERM Labour Certification, I‑140 petition, and consular processing).

Because this process is demanding and time‑consuming, employers only commit to it when they have consistent, long‑term vacancies—that is, when there is real demand.

Healthcare support roles and skilled trades are exactly where that demand is becoming more visible.

Why Healthcare Is a Long‑Term Growth Area for EB‑3

The United States, like many countries, is experiencing a demographic shift:

• The population is aging.

• Many healthcare workers are retiring.

• Younger generations are often less willing to take on physically demanding, emotionally heavy care roles.

The result is a persistent shortage of workers across the healthcare system—not just doctors and registered nurses, but also support staff who keep hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities functioning.

Healthcare Support Roles With EB‑3 Potential

Some of the types of roles that can fall under EB‑3 Skilled or Other Worker categories include:

• Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) / Healthcare Assistants – helping patients with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility.

• Personal Care Aides and Home Health Aides – providing non‑medical support to elderly or disabled individuals in care homes or private residences.

• Rehabilitation or Therapy Aides – supporting physiotherapists or occupational therapists with basic tasks.

• Direct Support Professionals – assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in residential or community settings.

• Non‑clinical support roles in hospitals or care facilities such as environmental services (cleaning), dietary services (kitchen assistants), and patient transport.

These roles are central to the system: during COVID‑19, the world saw how health facilities depended on every level of staff, not just doctors.

U.S. Data on Healthcare Shortages

Reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other health workforce studies consistently show:

• Home health and personal care aide jobs are among the fastest‑growing occupations in America, projected to add hundreds of thousands of positions over the coming decade.

• Long‑term care facilities face high turnover, creating constant demand for reliable workers.

• Rural and some suburban areas particularly struggle to attract local staff, making employer‑sponsored immigration an appealing solution.

For EB‑3 purposes, these shortages matter, because employers are more willing to:

• Invest in sponsorship processes.

• Commit to multi‑year workforce planning.

• Partner with advisory firms to source motivated workers from countries like Nigeria.

What This Means for Nigerians

For many Nigerians, healthcare support roles can be an excellent doorway into the U.S. system, even without a medical degree.

You may be a:

• Graduate in a non‑health field, but with experience caring for relatives or volunteering in hospitals.

• Holder of a nursing or health‑related diploma that has not led to stable opportunities locally.

• Worker from a completely different field but willing to retrain in care work because you value job security and meaningful work.

With the right training and mindset, you can become a competitive candidate for EB‑3 positions in healthcare support. Once in the U.S., you can:

• Pursue further education (e.g., licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or other health qualifications).

• Build a stable career with clear progression and benefits.

• Provide your family with access to quality healthcare and education.

Skilled Trades: The Backbone of Everyday Life

While offices and tech start‑ups often get the spotlight, entire economies quietly depend on people who build, repair, transport, and maintain the physical world around us.

In the U.S., many skilled trades are facing a crisis:

• Large numbers of experienced workers are retiring.

• Not enough young Americans are entering trades like welding, carpentry, electrical work, machinery maintenance, and logistics.

• Employers in manufacturing, construction, warehousing, and utilities struggle to fill critical positions.

Examples of Trades With EB‑3 Relevance

Some roles that often fit Skilled Worker (2+ years’ experience) or Other Worker categories include:

• Industrial or maintenance technicians (mechanical, electrical, HVAC).

• Welders, fabricators, and metal workers.

• Machine operators and production line workers in food processing or manufacturing.

• Forklift, warehouse, and logistics workers.

• Certain construction trades: carpenters, concrete finishers, equipment operators.

• Skilled positions in large laundry, cleaning, or facility services companies.

Various industry reports in the U.S. show that manufacturers and logistics companies, for example, anticipate hundreds of thousands of unfilled roles over the next 5–10 years if nothing changes.

For employers, EB‑3 becomes a logical part of the solution: they can bring in committed workers, train them to company standards, and rely on them long term.

Nigerian Talent in Skilled Trades

Nigeria has a huge pool of practical talent:

• Polytechnic graduates with HND/OND in engineering‑related fields.

• Apprenticeship‑trained electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and welders.

• Workers with years of hands‑on experience in food processing plants, oil and gas services, printing, and construction.

• Technical staff in hotels, factories, hospitals, and telecoms infrastructure.

Unfortunately, local conditions often limit pay, safety, and career growth. EB‑3 opens up a way for these skills to be recognized and rewarded on a global stage.

In the U.S., a skilled trade can provide:

• Steady income with overtime possibilities.

• Employer‑sponsored training and certifications.

• Respect as a crucial part of the economy.

• A strong base for your children’s educational and financial future.

Do You Need a Degree for These Roles?

One of the most important advantages of healthcare support and skilled trades is that they do not always require a university degree.

Under EB‑3 rules:

• If the role is categorised as Professional, a degree is needed.

• If it is Skilled Worker, at least 2 years of relevant experience or training is required, but a degree is not mandatory.

• Other Worker roles may require less formal training but expect a willingness to learn and perform physical or repetitive tasks.

This means Nigerian applicants can be strong candidates even if they:

• Did not attend university but completed technical college or apprenticeship.

• Hold an OND or HND plus several years of real‑world experience.

• Have a degree in a different field but are open to retraining for a stable U.S. career.

What matters most is:

• Your ability to do the job well.

• Your commitment to performing it reliably.

• Your documentation proving past training and employment.

Respecting All Types of Work

In Nigeria, there is often a strong cultural bias: parents dream of “doctor, lawyer, engineer” for their children. Hands‑on or care‑based roles are sometimes seen as “less prestigious.”

Yet many of those highly respected professionals are now leaving the country because the system itself makes it difficult to thrive. At the same time, in places like the U.S., skilled tradespeople and care workers are increasingly recognized as essential pillars of society.

EB‑3 opportunities in these areas are not “second‑class.” They are:

• Real jobs that pay real wages and carry legal protections.

• A family‑friendly gateway to permanent residency.

• A chance to do honest, necessary work that improves people’s lives.

Reframing how we think about these careers is crucial. Rather than asking, “Is this job prestigious enough?”, ask:

• “Does this job have stable demand?”

• “Can I grow in this field?”

• “Will this path create a more secure future for my family?”

For many Nigerians, care and trade roles answered through EB‑3 tick all three boxes.

How Nigerians Can Prepare for EB‑3 Opportunities in These Sectors

If you are interested in healthcare support or skilled trades, here are practical steps to make yourself more attractive for future EB‑3 roles.

Build or Formalise Your Skills

• Enrol in short courses or diplomas related to your chosen field (nursing assistant, geriatric care, basic electrical installation, welding, machine operation, etc.).

• Seek certifications where possible; even local or regional ones show commitment and can be explained to U.S. employers.

• If you are self‑taught, look for ways to convert that into documented training or recognised qualifications.

Gain Consistent Work Experience

• Aim for full‑time roles that give you at least 2 years of continuous, relevant experience.

• Request reference letters from employers describing your duties, performance, and dates of employment.

• Keep pay slips, appointment letters, and performance appraisals where available.

Develop Soft Skills

Healthcare and trades both require strong soft skills:

• Communication (especially clear English)

• Teamwork

• Reliability and punctuality

• Respect for safety procedures

In interviews and reference letters, employers care as much about your attitude as your technical ability.

Prepare for the Realities of the Work

These fields can be demanding:

• Healthcare support involves dealing with illness, disability, and sometimes death.

• Trades can involve physical labour, shift work, or exposure to noise and machinery.

Think carefully about whether you are ready for this type of work. EB‑3 is long‑term; you should not enter a field you absolutely dislike.

How InvestMigrate Connects You to These High‑Demand Areas

Because InvestMigrate focuses on compliant, employer‑based EB‑3 programs, the company works closely with U.S. partners who understand where labour gaps are most serious.

In healthcare and trades, that approach includes:

• Identifying Legitimate Employers

  • Nursing homes, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, logistics companies, manufacturers, and facility‑management firms that have real, ongoing vacancies.

• Screening Nigerian Candidates

  • Reviewing education, experience, and documentation to match applicants to appropriate roles.

  • Ensuring that expectations about job duties, location, schedule, and pay are realistic from both sides.

• Guiding Skills Development

  • Advising potential candidates on which certifications or experience will improve their chances.

  • Encouraging long‑term planning rather than last‑minute scrambling.

• Managing the Legal Process

  • Working with U.S. immigration counsel to navigate PERM, I‑140, and consular processing.

  • Keeping families informed with transparent timelines and requirements.

Through this structured system, Nigerians are not just handed a random job; they are matched thoughtfully to roles where they can genuinely add value and grow.

Common Myths About Healthcare and Trade‑Based EB‑3 Jobs

• Myth 1: “These jobs are only for people with foreign passports or huge money.”Reality: EB‑3 is designed precisely for foreign workers, including Nigerians. Money alone cannot buy eligibility; what matters is job fit, skills, and honesty.

• Myth 2: “If it’s not an office job, it means failure.”Reality: Many office jobs in Nigeria are low‑paying and unstable. Care and trade roles in the U.S. can provide far greater stability, benefits, and long‑term opportunity.

• Myth 3: “Unskilled means you stay stuck forever.”Reality: Many people start in entry‑level roles and later upskill into supervisory, technical, or even professional positions once they settle and study further.

• Myth 4: “Any agent offering healthcare or trade jobs must be legit because there is demand.”Reality: High demand also attracts scammers. You must still verify employers, contracts, and the legality of the process.

Is a Healthcare or Trade Path Right for You?

Choosing a career path—especially one tied to relocation—is deeply personal. Ask yourself:

• Am I willing to do practical, sometimes physically demanding work?

• Do I care about helping people directly or seeing visible results from my hands‑on efforts?

• Would I rather build a stable life for my family than chase a certain “title” to impress others?

• Am I ready to invest time in training and gathering experience before or during the EB‑3 process?

If your honest answers lean toward “yes,” then the healthcare and skilled‑trade routes under EB‑3 may be exactly where your opportunity lies.

Dignity, Demand, and Your Family’s Future

The global economy is changing. Countries like the United States are learning the hard way that without enough nurses’ aides, technicians, machine operators, and care workers, everything else slows down.

For Nigerians, this shift opens a window: the skills and resilience we often take for granted at home are increasingly valued abroad.

Through the EB‑3 program, healthcare support and skilled trades offer:

• A legal, employer‑sponsored route to permanent residency.

• Realistic, ongoing demand rather than short‑term hype.

• Work that, while challenging, carries deep dignity and social importance.

• A foundation for your children to grow up in a safer, more predictable environment.

If you are a Nigerian worker—whether already in healthcare or a trade, or considering moving in that direction—and you want to explore how your skills could fit EB‑3 demand, the next step is to get a proper assessment, not rely on hearsay.

You can start here: sign up in the lead form.

The world needs people who care and people who build. With planning, training, and ethical guidance, you and your family could be part of that future—securely and permanently—through the EB‑3 pathway.