May 31 marked the beginning of the Express Entry category-based selection draws, as announced by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
This week will mark the first round of STEM occupation category-based draws, according to IRCC. The IRCC held the inaugural category-based Express Entry drawing last week and invited healthcare professionals to attend.
Moreover, in consideration of Express Entry candidates, IRCC will give preference to the occupations or French language skills listed below.
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Healthcare
- Transport
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
As part of the selection process, IRCC consulted with its partners, provinces, territories, and stakeholders from across the nation about what groups might be suitable based on projected labor market shortages.
What was the rationale behind selecting STEM occupations?
The Canadian STEM labor force is facing a skills gap, according to Statistics Canada’s report published at the end of 2022. There are many factors contributing to this gender gap, including a high retirement rate, changes in technology, and an increase in automation in daily life and in industry.
According to the end of 2022 Q4 figures, 56,915 professional, scientific, and technical positions were available in Canada.
Furthermore, 2023’s federal budget includes $20 billion in investments to support the construction of significant growth infrastructure and clean electricity projects, increasing demand for technology professionals.
Furthermore, increasing demand for IT professionals has resulted from Canada’s AI industry expansion. By virtue of its IV innovation, implementation, and investment, Canada is ranked fourth worldwide in the Global AI Index.
Furthermore, STEM jobs generally offer comparable salaries to those found in other industries. Compared to the average salary in Canada of $69,311 in 2021, this industry’s average salary was $90,252. STEM wages are higher than those in hospitality and food services, with an average wage of $35.80 at the end of 2022 Q4.
Express Entry category draws STEM occupations – Its eligibility
STEM professionals must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the new category:
- Eligible for one of the Express Entry programs FSW – (Federal Skilled Workers Program), CEC – (Canadian Experience Class), and FSTP – (Federal Skilled Tarde Program).
- Minimum 6 months of continuous work experience in listed occupations within the last 3 years.
- Fulfill all other requirements mentioned in the instructions for the round.
Which occupations fall under the category of STEM?
The STEM occupations category comprises a total of 24 different occupations. Here are a few examples:
- Data scientists
- Civil engineers
- Web developers and programmers
- Architects
- Urban and land use planners
- Engineer managers
- Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries
- Software developers and programmers
- Land surveyors
What is the selection process for Express Entry category-based rounds of invitation?
A permanent residence application will be invited be submitted by the IRCC if the applicant qualifies for a certain category during rounds of invites based on eligibility. The following are included in this standard:
- Work experience in a specific NOC category.
- Language proficiency in English or French.
- Educational qualifications.
In what way will CRS scores be taken into account?
The top applicants who can contribute to achieving economic objectives will be invited to participate in category-based draws in addition to the general and program-specific draws. The CRS, a points-based system, is used to rank applicants in the Express Entry pool. As well as candidates are ranked using a variety of criteria, including age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.
For category-based draws, a candidate’s CRS score will still be very significant. Candidates who receive the highest-ranking scores and who are also qualified for the category-based draw will receive invites from IRCC.
