In June 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced category-based Express Entry draws as part of its strategy to address specific labor market needs in Canada. These draws are designed to target skilled workers who possess the necessary experience and language skills required to fill critical job shortages across various sectors.
The primary objective of category-based Express Entry draws is to streamline the selection process for candidates who can contribute immediately to Canada’s economy. By focusing on candidates with in-demand skills while still considering their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, IRCC aims to efficiently match skilled workers with available job opportunities.
Priority Categories in 2024
In 2024, IRCC has identified several priority categories where skilled workers are urgently needed:
- Healthcare: Addressing shortages in medical professions.
- Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM): Meeting demands in innovative and technical fields.
- Trades: Supporting infrastructure development and maintenance.
- Transport: Addressing logistics and transportation needs.
- Agriculture and Agri-Food: Meeting agricultural production and food supply needs.
- French-language proficiency: Promoting linguistic diversity and integration across Canada.
Draws and CRS Scores
Since the inception of category-based draws in June 2023, IRCC has conducted 25 draws, each targeting specific categories with varying CRS cut-off scores. Here are some notable examples:
Date of Draw | Category | CRS Cut-Off Score | Number of ITAs Issued |
---|---|---|---|
June 28, 2023 | Healthcare | 476 | 500 |
July 5, 2023 | STEM | 486 | 500 |
July 6, 2023 | Healthcare | 463 | 1,500 |
July 7, 2023 | French | 439 | 2,300 |
July 12, 2023 | French | 375 | 3,800 |
August 2, 2023 | French | 435 | 800 |
August 3, 2023 | Trades | 388 | 1,500 |
September 20, 2023 | Transport | 435 | 1,000 |
September 27, 2023 | French | 472 | 500 |
September 28, 2023 | Agriculture and Agri-Food | 354 | 600 |
October 25, 2023 | French | 486 | 300 |
October 26, 2023 | Healthcare | 431 | 3,600 |
December 7, 2023 | French | 470 | 1,000 |
December 8, 2023 | STEM | 481 | 5,900 |
December 19, 2023 | Trades | 425 | 1,000 |
December 20, 2023 | Transport | 435 | 670 |
December 21, 2023 | Agriculture and Agri-Food | 386 | 400 |
February 1, 2024 | French | 365 | 7,000 |
February 14, 2024 | Healthcare | 422 | 3,500 |
February 16, 2024 | Agriculture and Agri-Food | 437 | 150 |
February 29, 2024 | French | 336 | 2,500 |
March 13, 2024 | Transport | 430 | 975 |
March 26, 2024 | French | 338 | 1,500 |
April 11, 2024 | STEM | 491 | 4,500 |
April 24, 2024 | French | 410 | 1,400 |
Total ITAs Issued
Over the past year, IRCC has issued a significant number of ITAs across priority categories:
- Healthcare: 9,100 ITAs
- STEM: 10,900 ITAs
- Trades: 2,500 ITAs
- Transport: 2,645 ITAs
- Agriculture and Agri-Food: 1,150 ITAs
- French-language proficiency: 21,100 ITAs
2024 Outlook
Looking ahead to 2024, IRCC plans to allocate ITAs according to the following distribution:
- Healthcare: 15%
- STEM: 25%
- Trades: 5%
- Transport: 3%
- Agriculture and Agri-Food: 0.5%
- French-language proficiency: 30%
Overall, approximately 78.5% of ITAs in 2024 will be issued through category-based draws, with the remainder through general draws targeting candidates across all categories.