Each year, IRCC publishes Canada’s Express Entry 2022 Annual Report, offering a comprehensive review of this system. Express Entry, Canada’s application management system, is instrumental in attracting foreign skilled workers who aspire to obtain PR in the country.
The FSWP the FSTP, and the CEC are the three main programs covered by the 2015-introduced Express Entry framework. These initiatives offer essential routes for people seeking to become permanent residents of Canada.
It is also noteworthy that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is managed in part thanks to the Express Entry technology. However, it’s crucial to note that PNP applicants must also satisfy the prerequisites for at least one of the three core programs listed above in order to proceed with their Express Entry application for Canadian immigration.
Express Entry profiles in 2022 slightly lower than 2021
A total of 428,391 Express Entry profiles were submitted in 2022. It representing a large 19% increase over 2020 but a modest fall of 3% from 2021. According to the data from 2021, at least 74% of these profiles satisfied the requirements for one of the immigration programs run by Express Entry.
Men submitted more profiles (238,382) than women did (189,881), and men made up 56% of all submissions while women made up 44%, echoing the ratios seen in 2021. While the proportion of profile submissions that met the program’s requirements for men stayed the same (71%) from 2020 to 2022, it increased slightly for female candidates (78%), indicating a slight rise in their eligibility.
The majority of Express Entry profile submissions came from individuals with CRS scores ranging from 301 to 500
When analyzing Express Entry applicants, the CRS ratings are crucial since they take into account details like age, language proficiency, educational background, and work experience. It’s crucial to keep in mind that the distribution of CRS scores in the Express Entry pool is dynamic. And it shifts with every new qualifying profile submission.
The total number of eligible profiles submitted in 2022 decreased somewhat, however the concentration of CRS scores for eligible individuals at the time of submission remained constant between 301 and 500.
Candidates can also gain extra CRS points for things like having Canadian siblings or having completed their schooling in Canada. The majority (55%) of people who submitted profiles in 2022 were not eligible for any additional points. This indicates a rising number of candidates who are qualified for at least one sort of bonus point. But it also represents a progressive decline compared to 2020 (63%) and 2021 (58%). Candidates most frequently matched the requirements for Canadian schooling (23%) and having Canadian siblings (14%).
Who received ITA for PR via the Express Entry system?
ITAs distributed through draws in the year 2022
A total of 24 Express Entry drawings were held in 2022 by IRCC, which produced 46,539 ITAs. This represented a dramatic 59% drop from the 114,431 ITAs issued in the year prior, 2021, which was notable. The IRCC’s decision to temporarily cease ITAs for the Federal High Skilled Immigration Programs run by Express Entry is responsible for this decline. Instead, they concentrated on running rounds specifically for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) from September 2021 to July 2022.
The majority of ITAs in 2022 were provided to applicants in two programs: 19,258 ITAs were awarded under PNPs. And 18,895 ITAs were extended to applicants in the CEC program due to these brief delays in general round invitations. Notably, no ITAs were issued in 2022 under the FSWP. As well as no ITAs were issued under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) either.
ITAs distributed by gender during the year 2022
In terms of the age distribution of candidates who were awarded ITAs, in 2022, people in the 20-to-29 age group accounted for 50% of all ITAs granted. It’s interesting that this age group has the strongest correlation with CRS point accumulation.
Individuals aged 30-34, the second-largest age cohort among ITA recipients, saw the most significant percentage increase in 2022, posting a 29% increase compared to the data in 2021, which stood at 19%. This indicates that the number of applicants chosen within this age group is increasing.
ITAs distributed based on candidates’ education levels in the year 2022
There was a noticeable pattern in the number of ITAs given to Express Entry candidates in 2022, where the number of ITAs correlated with the greatest level of education earned by individuals. During the previous year, only 540 invites, which accounted for a meager 1% of ITAs, were granted to applicants with only a high school diploma or less.
On the other hand, individuals with one- or two-year post-secondary degrees received 9% of all ITAs. Individuals with post-secondary degrees obtained from programs lasting three years or more received a significant 40% of all ITAs. In addition, 46% of all ITAs in 2022 went to applicants with master’s degrees or credentials that allowed them to practice their profession.
Last but not least, 4% of ITA recipients in the previous year were Ph.D. holders. These numbers provide light on the uneven distribution of ITAs based on the academic standing of Express Entry candidates in 2022.
ITAs distributed based on language proficiency in the year 2022
In 2022, more ITAs were issued to applicants who demonstrated higher levels of proficiency in their first official language, as determined by their CLB or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) score.
The breakdown of ITAs granted depending on the CLB/NCLC levels, presented in ascending order, is as follows:
- CLB/NCLC 4: A total of 7 ITAs were issued to candidates at this proficiency level.
- CLB/NCLC 5: A substantial 817 ITAs were extended to individuals with proficiency at this level.
- CLB/NCLC 6: A noteworthy 2,094 ITAs were awarded to candidates who achieved this level of language proficiency.
- CLB/NCLC 7: The highest number of ITAs, amounting to 9,444, were issued to candidates with proficiency at this level.
- CLB/NCLC 8: A substantial 8,709 ITAs were granted to individuals demonstrating proficiency at this level.
- CLB/NCLC 9: An even higher number of ITAs, specifically 15,587, were issued to candidates who achieved this level of language proficiency.
- CLB/NCLC 10: The year saw 9,881 ITAs being extended to individuals who showcased the highest level of language proficiency.
These figures highlight the relationship between ITA distribution and language proficiency. It demonstrating a preference in 2022 for applicants with more advanced language abilities.
ITAs distributed based on the number of years of Canadian work experience in the year 2022
According to information from this study, the majority of people who received ITAs in the previous year had one year of work experience in Canada. Specifically, 18,986 people, or 41% of all ITA grantees, had worked in Canada for one year.
The next largest group of ITA recipients, making up 35% of 16,066 ITAs, had no prior employment experience in Canada. Express Entry applicants with two years of Canadian employment experience were the only other notable group to receive more than 4% of ITAs. 7,246 ITAs were awarded to individuals in this category, constituting 16% of the total.
Candidates with varying amounts of Canadian work experience each received four percent or less of all Express Entry ITAs in 2022:
Less than one year: A total of 1,957 ITAs, representing 4%.
3 years: A sum of 1,528 ITAs, equivalent to 3%.
4 years: A total of 480 ITAs, comprising 1%.
5 years: A modest 276 ITAs, making up less than 1% of the total ITAs issued.
ITAs based on international work experience in 2022
Given that ITAs were not just linked to an increase in the number of years spent working abroad, recipients of ITAs in 2022 displayed an intriguing trend similar to Canadian work experience. While applicants with five or more years of worldwide work experience received the highest percentage of ITAs (totaling 16,251 ITAs). And the next-highest percentage of ITAs (12,569 ITAs, or 27%), was given to applicants with one year or less of overseas work experience.
The remaining ITAs granted in accordance with candidates’ years of foreign work experience are summarized in the list below:
- 1 year: A total of 3,796 ITAs, constituting 8%.
- 2 years: 3,267 ITAs, making up 7%.
- 3 years: 6,035 ITAs, accounting for 13%.
- 4 years: 4,621 ITAs, representing 10%.
ITAs based on additional points and criteria met in 2022
The report presented data on invitations given to men and women who met the requirements for various types of bonus points. Notably, the two additional point categories with the highest percentage of male and female applicants in 2022 were Education in Canada (19,587 ITAs) and Arranged Employment (8,756 ITAs).
But in 2022, there was a difference in treatment between men and women. For bonus points, women’s top categories were Education in Canada and French language proficiency. While men’s top categories were Arranged Employment and Education in Canada.
Regarding Arranged Employment points, the distribution remained stable across genders over the past three years, with men consistently meeting the criteria at a higher rate (65%) than women (35%). In contrast, in 2022, women slightly outpaced men in meeting the criteria for French-language proficiency points, with 53% of women satisfying the criteria compared to 47% of men, signifying a subtle shift from the previous year’s balance where both genders held equal shares at 50%.
The leading three primary occupations for 2022 ITA recipients were within the technology sector
In contrast to prior years, there were noticeable changes in the principal professions of applicants who were granted ITAs for permanent residency through Express Entry in 2022.
The number of applicants with TEER 2 vocations increased significantly in 2021 as a result of the switch to invitation rounds that were particular to the CEC and PNP. These jobs often require a college degree or two years or more of apprenticeship training, including supervisory duties. However, a sizable majority of ITA grantees in 2022 were applicants with TEER 1 vocations, which normally require a university degree.
The technological field accounted for the majority of the recipients of ITAs in 2022 in terms of their principal occupations. The most common jobs included those of software engineers, designers, information systems specialists, computer system developers, and programmers. The majority of those invited to apply through Express Entry in 2022 were in these roles.
Furthermore, among the individuals invited to apply in 2022, top professions included cooks and food service supervisors.
In 2022, software engineers and designers received the highest arranged employment points in Express Entry
In contrast to prior years, there were noticeable changes in the principal professions of applicants who received ITAs for permanent residency through Express Entry in 2022.
The number of applicants with TEER 2 vocations increased significantly in 2021 as a result of the switch to invitation rounds that were particular to the CEC and PNP. These jobs often require a college degree or two years or more of apprenticeship training, including supervisory duties. However, a sizable majority of ITA grantees in 2022 were applicants with TEER 1 vocations, which normally require a university degree.
The technological field accounted for the majority of the recipients of ITAs in 2022 in terms of their principal occupations. The most common jobs included software engineers, designers, information systems specialists, computer system developers, and programmers. The majority of those invited to apply through Express Entry in 2022 were in these roles.
Furthermore, among the individuals invited to apply in 2022, the top professions included cooks and food service supervisors.
For the second consecutive year, the majority of ITA recipients were residents of Canada, India, and Nigeria
Canada citizens made up 31,486 of the candidates who received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Express Entry program in the previous year. This continues a pattern, as Canada was also the top nation where ITA winners resided in both 2021 (102,906) and 2020 (68,061). India (3,787) and Nigeria (1,730), which remained in the top three spots from the previous year. They had the highest percentages of international Express Entry applicants who received ITAs.
The complete list of the top 10 nations where 2022 ITA recipients will dwell, along with the total number of ITAs granted to citizens of each nation, is shown below:
- United States of America (842)
- Canada (31,486)
- India (3,787)
- Algeria (550)
- Morocco (793)
- United Arab Emirates (683)
- Nigeria (1,730)
- France (381)
- Cameroon (1,063)
- Lebanon (559)
Indian citizenship predominated among ITA recipients, trailed by Algeria and China
The top citizenships among those who have received ITA have changed throughout time. For the past three years, India has maintained the top place, indicating a significant presence in the Express Entry system. The People’s Republic of China achieved second place in 2020 and 2021, demonstrating its strong representation among ITA recipients. Notably, Nigerian residents won a sizable total of 6,550 ITAs in 2020, placing them in third place. The situation changed in 2021, though, when 3,131 Republic of Korea citizens became the third-largest group of ITA recipients.
With 20,769 ITAs awarded to its residents, India maintained its top ranking in the most recent figures for 2022. Algeria came in second place with 2,909 ITAs, closely followed by the People’s Republic of China in third place with 2,456 ITAs. The top 10 nations whose citizens received ITAs also include Cameroon, Iran, France, Morocco, the United States of America, the Philippines, and Pakistan. It reflecting the wide range of backgrounds of applicants received ITAs for PR in Canada via the Express Entry system.
The majority of ITA recipients settle in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta
Examining the destination province preferences of 2022 Express Entry applicants is important because Canadian permanent residents have historically preferred to settle in three provinces: Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
The majority of Express Entry candidates, 16,978 in total, choose to settle in Ontario in 2022, continuing a trend from prior years. But it’s interesting to note that in the previous year. The proportion of applicants who chose to live in Ontario fell from 61% to 48%. The next two most popular provinces of destination, with 20% and 12% of all Express Entry applicants, respectively, were British Columbia (6,966) and Alberta (4,372).
Express Entry candidates continued to prefer the three Canadian regions of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon in 2022. This trend was consistent with the previous two years. A total of 78 applications selected these territories.
Please note that this information excludes Express Entry applicants heading to Quebec, as Quebec has its own distinct immigration policies.
Processing times for Express Entry applications are generally slower than in 2021
Express Entry application processing times have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2021, CEC applications required only 6 months for processing, but a recent study found that it took 19 months. IRCC takes an average of 8.1 months to process 80% of applications. This shift is largely due to the average processing time. A significant jump in processing time occurred for FSTP applications. It moved from 23 months in 2021 to 63 months in 2022. In 2021, CEC applications required only 6 months for processing, but a recent study found that it took 19 months. The processing time for applications to the FSWP saw a slight increase from 28 months a year ago. For applications to the PNP, it took 13 months.
Conclusion
In its seventh year of operation, Canada’s federal government’s Express Entry system continued to be a dependable immigration route. It attracted people from all over the world. Through its three programs, it permitted the entry of several highly talented immigrants. IRCC continues to accept qualified economic immigrants. They would have a beneficial influence on Canada’s economy and society, despite a 59% decline in ITAs issued in 2022.
In the future, the system will expand with category-based draws commencing in June 2023. These contests emphasize fluency in French and recent employment in important industries like healthcare, STEM, transportation, trades, and agriculture. Within these categories, IRCC has already granted 11,900 ITAs in 2023. Canada remains committed to attracting outstanding talent from around the world while offering a top-notch immigration destination.
