
Canada’s Express Entry system has seen significant changes over the past two years.
In 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented category-based selection draws, allowing the department to target candidates who align with the country’s economic and demographic objectives.
But have these changes impacted the way candidates are invited through the Express Entry system? Below is a comparison of Express Entry draws in 2024 to the same period in 2023. While IRCC has issued more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) this year compared to last, a thorough analysis of the data is necessary for a clearer understanding.
What is Category-Based Selection?
Category-based selection draws are a mechanism used by IRCC to select immigration candidates through Canada’s Express Entry system. This approach enables IRCC to invite candidates who possess specific human capital attributes, such as professional experience and language skills, rather than solely relying on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.
The current Express Entry categories include:
Healthcare occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations
Trade occupations
Transport occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
French language proficiency
How Many ITAs Has Canada Issued This Year Compared to Last Year?
As of the latest draw on September 19, 2024, IRCC has issued 84,874 ITAs through the Express Entry system. By the same date in 2023, IRCC had issued 81,948 ITAs.
It’s important to note that the federal allocation of landed immigrants for the Express Entry system has changed between 2023 and 2024. ITAs count toward the “Federal High Skilled" allocation in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. In 2023, IRCC anticipated welcoming 82,800 immigrants through this system, while in 2024, the expectation has risen to 110,770.
How Many Draws Has IRCC Held This Year Compared to Last Year?
So far in 2024, IRCC has conducted 37 draws across nine different categories and streams, with an average draw size of 2,294 ITAs. In comparison, by this time last year, IRCC had held 28 draws across eight categories and streams, with an average draw size of 2,927 ITAs.
The increase in the number of draws this year is partly due to a historic July in 2024, during which IRCC held nine draws—the most in a single month since the start of Express Entry in 2015.
Which Streams/Categories Had the Most Draws in 2024 Compared to 2023?
The following table outlines the number of draws and ITAs issued by category/stream in 2024, compared to the same timeframe in 2023:
Category/Stream | Draws in 2024 | ITAs in 2024 | Draws by Sept 20, 2023 | ITAs by Sept 20, 2023 |
Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 0 | 0 | 1 | 150 |
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 6 | 24,800 | 0 | 0 |
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3,300 |
French language proficiency category | 8 | 20,400 | 3 | 6,900 |
Healthcare occupations category | 2 | 7,250 | 2 | 2,000 |
General (includes CEC, FSWP, and FSTP) | 9 | 14,445 | 0 | 0 |
No Program Specified (includes CEC, FSWP, FSTP) | 0 | 0 | 15 | 63,900 |
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 8 | 10,554 | 4 | 2,848 |
STEM occupations category | 1 | 4,500 | 1 | 500 |
Trade occupations category | 1 | 1,800 | 1 | 1,500 |
Transport occupations category | 1 | 975 | 1 | 1,000 |
Notably, there has been a sharp increase in both CEC and PNP draws since May and June of this year, following Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s comments on conducting more “domestic draws” for Express Entry candidates. In 2023, there were only four PNP draws and no CEC draws under Express Entry, whereas 2024 has already seen eight PNP draws and six CEC draws.
The French language proficiency category is also becoming increasingly significant. While there were only three draws for this category in 2023, 2024 has already recorded eight. Additionally, IRCC plans to increase the allocation of French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec from 6% this year to 8% by 2026.
Cut-Off Scores Comparison
To better compare cut-off scores for each stream or category, the table below outlines the highest and lowest CRS cut-off scores in both 2023 and 2024 for categories selected multiple times in both years:
Category/Stream | Highest CRS Cut-Off (2024) | Lowest CRS Cut-Off (2024) | Highest CRS Cut-Off (2023) | Lowest CRS Cut-Off (2023) |
French language proficiency category | 446 | 336 | 439 | 375 |
Healthcare occupations category | 445 | 422 | 476 | 463 |
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 739 | 663 | 791 | 691 |
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