As 2023 concludes, a close examination of Canada’s Express Entry system reveals impactful changes. The initial half of the year continued trends from 2022, marked by the resumption of draws after an 18-month hiatus. Express Entry draws showcased versatility, including all-program, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-focused, and exclusive Federal Skilled Workers draws. These variations highlight the dynamic nature of Canada’s immigration landscape and the authorities’ strategic candidate selection. This year-end analysis of Express Entry in 2023 offers a comprehensive overview, spotlighting diverse draw structures and their implications. It underscores the importance of adaptability and flexibility in navigating the evolving immigration landscape to Canada.
Draws for Express Entry were normally held every two weeks, though they were occasionally held more frequently. Notably, in four lotteries held in March 2023, IRCC sent invitations to more almost 21,000 applicants for Express Entry. This was the second-highest monthly invitation total for Express Entry applicants ever noted.
Invitations rounds based on specific categories
These new categories are designed to attract applicants who share the goals of the IRCC, which include encouraging French language competency outside of Quebec and using immigration to strengthen Canada’s labor force and economy as a whole. IRCC released six new Express Entry lottery categories in May. Given the June 2022 amendment to the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), this result was expected. The amendment gave the immigration minister the power to ITAs based on certain characteristics instead of only a high CRS score as a whole.
The inclusion of these categories reflects the Express Entry system’s systematic and nuanced approach to selecting applicants.
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Strong French proficiency
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
500 healthcare professionals were invited to apply in the first draw based on categories, which took place on June 28. Consequently, employing the category-based selection method, IRCC has invited more than 16,000 individuals for Express Entry.
Types of draw
The majority of the 42 drawings that took place in 2023 consisted of all-program draws, which evaluated applicants from the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Federal Skilled Worker Program. Notably, during the year, candidates for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) did not receive any ITAs from IRCC. To be more precise, five draws were made specifically for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), one draw was made specifically for candidates in the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), and the remaining seventeen draws were made using selection criteria unique to each category.
An overview of CRS scores
Current information from IRCC indicates that a considerable proportion of Express Entry applicants who received ITAs between January and September 2023—26,070 people—were in the CRS score range of 451–500. Furthermore, 11,640 applicants had scores between 501 and 600.
Interestingly, 12,590 candidates had CRS scores in the highest range of 900 to 1,200. This suggests that these individuals likely received provincial nominations under the PNP, adding 600 CRS points to their already-existing scores.
Examining draw types, the lowest CRS score for an all-program draw occurred on March 29, registering at 481, during which 7,000 candidates received ITAs. In contrast, the highest CRS score for an all-program draw was 561 on December 6, with 4,750 candidates securing ITAs.
For PNP only draws, the highest CRS score reached 791 on February 15, involving a draw for 699 candidates. Conversely, the lowest CRS score for PNP-only draws was 691 on May 10, with 589 PNP candidates receiving ITAs.
Notable changes included a special draw for FSWP on February 2 that required applicants to score at least 489 on the CRS. During this draw, a sizable number of hopefuls received 3,300 ITAs.
Furthermore, in category-based selection rounds, the draw for agriculture and agri-food jobs on September 28 was notable for requiring the lowest CRS score (354). 600 individuals received ITAs from IRCC in this draw.
On the other hand, twice a year, the category-based selection had the highest CRS score. A minimum score of 486 was set for a draw of 500 candidates in STEM vocations on July 5. On October 25, the Express Entry system further highlighted the importance of these categories as it focused on 300 candidates with strong French language skills in another draw that also mandated the same minimum score.
A year-end analysis of Express Entry in 2023 – Draw’s frequency
Between January and June, Express Entry draws occurred regularly every two weeks, and at times, even weekly. The introduction of category-based selection draws brought an element of unpredictability to the issuance of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) by the IRCC.
However, ministerial instructions reveal a noticeable shift since July, indicating a trend of one week each month with three or four separate Express Entry draws held between Tuesday and Thursday. December witnessed the highest draw frequency, with seven draws occurring from December 6-21. Following closely, the second-highest volume was in July, with five draws from July 4 to 12. September also saw five draws over two weeks, while October had four draws, with three concentrated within a single week.
There was a notable break in drawings from October 26 to December 6. The Immigration Levels Plan’s Express Entry targets, manpower shortages, or persistent IT malfunctions are a few possible explanations, however the IRCC did not formally confirm any of them.
Overview of Express Entry Draws Since June 2023
- December 19: Trade occupations draw – 1,000 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 425.
- December 18: All-program draw – 1,325 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 542.
- December 8: STEM occupations draw – 5,900 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 481.
- December 7: French language proficiency draw – 1,000 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 470.
- December 6: All-program draw – 4,750 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 561.
- October 26: Healthcare occupations draw – 3,600 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 431.
- October 25: French language proficiency draw – 300 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 486.
- October 24: PNP-only draw – 1,548 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 776.
- October 10: All-program draw – 3,725 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 500.
- September 28: Agriculture and agri-food occupations draw – 600 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 354.
- September 27: French language proficiency draw – 500 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 472.
- September 26: All-program draw – 3,000 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 504.
- September 20: Transport occupations draw – 1,000 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 435.
- September 19: All-program draws – 3,200 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 531.
- August 15: All-program draw – 4,300 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 496.
- August 3: Trade occupations draw – 1,500 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 388.
- August 2: French language proficiency draw – 800 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 435.
- August 1: All-program draw – 2,000 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 517.
- July 12: French language proficiency draw – 3,800 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 375.
- July 11: All-program draw – 800 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 505.
- July 7: French language proficiency draw – 2,300 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 439.
- July 6: Healthcare occupations draw – 1,500 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 463.
- July 5: STEM occupations draw – 500 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 486.
- July 4: All-program draw – 700 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 511.
- June 28: Healthcare occupations draw – 500 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 476.
- June 27: All-program draw – 4,300 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 486.
- June 8: All-program draw – 4,800 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 486.
Anticipating the year 2024
The recently released Immigration Levels Plan for 2024–2026 indicates that Canada will admit 110,000 new permanent residents under the Express Entry system in 2024.
IRCC sought to admit 82,880 applicants through Express Entry in the previous year. Between the first draw on January 11 and the draw on December 21, the immigration department issued 110,266 ITAs. It’s crucial to remember that the IRCC may take up to six months to complete Express Entry applications, thus the issuance of ITAs does not ensure fast admission. Consequently, many of the ITAs issued in 2023 are expected to translate into admissions in 2024.
There’s still a chance that the Minister will change the categories that are in place for category-based selection. The results of the IRCC’s annual report to Parliament and input from interested parties, including provincial and territorial governments and settlement agencies, will determine this decision.
These parties are crucial in determining how well-integrated Express Entry applicants are into the local labor market and economy, particularly in terms of their ability to secure jobs in their specialties. If the Minister determines that the current categories do not sufficiently fulfill the IRCC’s mandate to invite applicants who are most likely to boost Canada’s economy, alternative categories may be created.
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