Category-based Express Entry draws: A year in review

Category-based Express Entry draws: A year in review

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first category-based draw on June 28, 2023.

This new draw type was announced in May last year by the Immigration Canada Department to attract skilled newcomers based on specific national labour gaps and demographic challenges.

In other words, IRCC decided to implement this new type of Express Entry draw so that Canada can attract foreign nationals with specific in-demand work experience and competencies.

Comment: Despite the focus on certain sought-after candidates, Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores continue to be a factor for category-based draws.

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Specifically, in 2024, IRCC has decided to prioritize candidates with the following work experience and language proficiency through category-based draws:

  • Healthcare Business
  • Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math (STEM) Occupations
  • business Business
  • Transportation Business
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Business
  • Proficiency in French Language

Draw Types, Frequency, and CRS Score

Since the first category-based draw was conducted about a year ago, IRCC has conducted 25 category-based draws.

When separated by category, the data showed that there was considerable variation in CRS cut-off scores.

Comment: Cut-off scores show the lowest eligible Express Entry profile score among all candidates who received an invitation to apply (ITA) during a given Express Entry draw. These scores are important because candidates without a CRS score above the set cut-off will not be eligible for an ITA during that specific draw.

Date of drawSocial classCRS Cut-Off ScoreNumber of ITAs issued
June 28, 2023Health care476500
July 5, 2023Trunk486500
July 6, 2023Health care4631,500
July 7, 2023French4392,300
July 12, 2023French3753,800
August 2, 2023French435800
August 3, 2023Trades3881,500
September 20, 2023transportation4351,000
September 27, 2023French472500
September 28, 2023Agriculture and agri-food354600
October 25, 2023French486300
October 26, 2023Health care4313,600
December 7, 2023French4701,000
December 8, 2023Trunk4815,900
December 19, 2023Trades4251,000
December 20, 2023transportation435670
December 21, 2023Agriculture and agri-food386400
February 1, 2024French3657,000
February 14, 2024Health care4223,500
February 16, 2024Agriculture and agri-food437150
February 29, 2024French3362,500
March 13, 2024transportation430975
March 26, 2024French3381,500
April 11, 2024Trunk4914,500
April 24, 2024French4101,400

Total ITAs issued

While IRCC selected all six of these categories as priorities for this new draw type, there was also considerable variation in the number of ITAs issued to candidates in each category last year.

Health care: 9,100 ITA

Trunk: 10,900 ITA

Trades: 2,500 ITA

transportation: 2,645 ITA

Agriculture and Agri-Food: 1,150 ITA

French Language Proficiency: 21,100 ITA

What will happen in the rest of 2024?

In April, CIC News reported that IRCC had already outlined its overall plan for ITA distribution among these six categories for 2024.

In short, IRCC has mentioned, based on the category, what percentage of ITAs each category will receive this year.

Health care: 15%

Trunk: 25%

Trades: 5%

transportation: 3%

Agriculture and Agri-Food: 0.5%

French Language Proficiency: 30%

Comment: IRCC also indicated that 78.5% of all Express Entry ITAs will be issued to category-based draw candidates, while the remaining 21.5% of ITAs will be issued in general draws throughout the year.

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