Significant changes have been made to Canada’s Express Entry system over the past two years.
The IRCC implemented category-based selection draws as a component of Express Entry in 2023. This strategy allows the immigration department to focus on candidates who align with the country’s economic and demographic interests.
Have these changes had an impact on how the Express Entry system invites candidates? Below are the Express Entry drawings for the corresponding years in 2023 and 2024. Even if the IRCC has issued more ITAs this year than it did last, a more thorough analysis of the data is still necessary. Rephrase everything using SEO terms Comparing the amount of ITAs awarded in 2024 and 2023.
An Overview of Category-Based Selection Draw
The IRCC employs a method known as category-based selection draws within Canada’s Express Entry system to identify immigration applicants. This approach allows the IRCC to prioritize candidates based on specific human capital attributes, such as language proficiency and work experience, rather than relying solely on their CRS scores.
Currently, the Express Entry categories focus on a variety of professions, including those in healthcare, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), skilled trades, transportation, as well as agriculture and agri-food sectors. In addition to these professional qualifications, candidates must also demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in French. This multi-faceted selection process aims to attract individuals whose skills align closely with the needs of the Canadian labor market, ensuring that the country benefits from a diverse and competent workforce.
Immigration Invitations in Canada from 2023 to 2024
As of September 19, 2024, following the most recent draw, the IRCC has issued a total of 84,874 ITAs through the Express Entry system. In comparison, as of September 20, 2023, the IRCC had granted 81,948 ITAs.
It is important to note that there has been a shift in the federal distribution of landed immigrants participating in the Express Entry program between 2023 and 2024. The annual Immigration Levels Plan’s allocation for “Federal High Skilled” immigrants is directly impacted by the ITAs issued through Express Entry. For 2024, the immigration agency anticipates welcoming 110,770 immigrants via this system, which marks an increase from its projection of 82,800 immigrants through Express Entry for 2023.
An In-Depth Analysis of Express Entry Draw Frequencies: Comparing 2024 to 2023
In 2024, the IRCC has conducted 37 draws through the Express Entry system, encompassing nine distinct categories and streams. On average, these draws issue about 2,294 ITAs, although this number can fluctuate significantly depending on the specific category or stream. In comparison, at this time last year, the IRCC held 28 draws with an average of 2,927 ITAs per draw across eight categories and streams. Similar to this year, there was considerable variation in draw sizes in 2023, depending on the selected category and stream.
July 2024 marked a historic month for the Express Entry system, with the IRCC conducting nine draws—the highest number in a single month since the program began in 2015. This surge in draws may contribute to the increased activity observed this year.
Leading Express Entry Streams of 2024 – A Comparison with 2023 Draws
The table below presents the number of draws by category and stream, along with the total number of ITAs issued for each category and stream in both 2024 and the corresponding period in 2023.
| Category/Stream | Number of Draws (2024) | ITAs Issued (2024) | Number of Draws (by Sept 20, 2023) | ITAs Issued (by Sept 20, 2023) |
| Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations Category | 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, and 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 |
Notable Increases in CEC and PNP Draws
Since May and June of this year, there has been a significant rise in draws through the Express Entry system for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This increase follows comments from Immigration Minister Marc Miller indicating plans for more “domestic draws” for applicants under Express Entry. In 2023, there were no CEC draws and only four PNP draws; however, in 2024, there have already been eight PNP draws and six CEC draws.
Additionally, the category of French Language Proficiency is gaining greater importance. In 2024, there have been eight draws in this category, compared to just three in 2023. The IRCC anticipates that the share of French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec will rise from 6% this year to 8% by 2026, as outlined in the levels plan.
To facilitate the comparison of cut-off scores across various streams and categories, the following table presents the CRS cut-off scores for streams and categories that were selected more than once in both years.
| Category/Stream | Highest CRS Cut-off Score (2024) | Lowest CRS Cut-off Score (2024) | Highest CRS Cut-off Score (by Sept 20, 2023) | Lowest CRS Cut-off Score (by Sept 20, 2023) |
| French Language Proficiency Category | 446 | 336 | 439 | 375 |
| Healthcare Occupations Category | 445 | 422 | 476 | 463 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 739 | 663 | 791 | 691 |
