Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in the fourth Express Entry draw this month. The department issued 3,200 ITAs in a category-based selection draw for French language proficiency. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 420 to be considered.
Today’s draw closely follows three draws from last week between July 2-5. The July 2 draw invited 920 candidates in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) only draw. Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 739 to be considered. The other two draws were category-based selection draws. The first occurred on July 4 and issued 1,800 ITAs to candidates in trade occupations and the second was for 3,750 candidates in healthcare occupations on July 5. Altogether, this month has been busy for Express Entry draws.
IRCC typically holds draws every second week, and averages between two and four draws every month. Comparatively, April was the last month to feature four draws and February was the busiest of the year so far with six. French proficiency draws are expected to account for 30% of the ITAs issued in category-based selection draws this year. To date, IRCC has issued 15,600 ITAs to eligible candidates this year for this category.
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What is category-based selection?
Category-based selection, introduced in 2023, enables IRCC to target candidates for critical workforce needs. Following consultations with stakeholders and governments, six categories were established:
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades occupations (e.g., carpenters, plumbers)
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- French-language proficiency
These categories will be effective until 2025, subject to potential updates reflecting Canada’s labor force requirements. Eligible candidates, except in French proficiency, must have at least six months of relevant work experience in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) code. French-speaking candidates need to achieve a minimum score of seven in reading, writing, speaking, and listening on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
Conclusion
In conclusion, category-based selection introduced by IRCC in 2023 represents a targeted approach to address urgent workforce gaps in Canada. Through extensive stakeholder consultations, six key categories were identified, spanning essential sectors such as healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture, and French-language proficiency. These categories, designed to meet current demands, underscore the importance of relevant work experience and language proficiency for eligible candidates. As these criteria may evolve by 2025 to better align with Canada’s evolving labor needs, the framework remains adaptable to ensure continued effectiveness in addressing the nation’s workforce priorities.
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