Canada’s Express Entry system recently underwent a significant change by introducing category-based targeted draws. This system previously selected candidates who had applied for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Provincial Nominee Programs based solely on their CRS score.
New Category-Based Express Entry Draws establish an additional selection method that chooses candidates with low CRS scores who possess work experience in specific fields or those who are proficient in French. The Canadian Government implemented this system to help address labor shortages in these fields and to help preserve Canada’s French-speaking community.
In this Canada immigration guide, we will cover the key things you should know about category-based Express Entry draws.
Category-Based Express Entry Draws: Overview
The “targeted” or “category-based” Express Entry draws focus on people with experience in any one of 82 occupations selected by IRCC to solve labour shortages in Canada. These are spread across the following five fields:
- Healthcare Roles
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Professions
- Trade Professions
- Transport Professions
- Agriculture Professions
Category-Based Express Entry Occupation List
Check out all the occupations eligible under the category-based Express Entry in 2023 in the comprehensive list:
| Category | Occupation Title | NOC TEER Code |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Occupations | Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | |
| Dentists | 31110 | |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 | |
| Education counsellors | 41320 | |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment | 31204 | |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | |
| Massage therapists | 32201 | |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 | |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | |
| Optometrists | 31111 | |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 | |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 | |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | |
| Psychologists | 31200 | |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 | |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | |
| Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations | Architects | 21200 |
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 | |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 | |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 | |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | |
| Data scientists | 21211 | |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | |
| Engineering managers | 20010 | |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 | |
| Land surveyors | 21203 | |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 | |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | |
| Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers | 41400 | |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 | |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 | |
| Urban and land use planners | 21202 | |
| Web designers | 21233 | |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 | |
| Skilled Trade Occupations | Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 | |
| Machine fitters | 72405 | |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | |
| Carpenters | 72310 | |
| Plumbers | 72300 | |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 | |
| Transport Occupations | Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors | 93200 |
| Transport truck drivers | 73300 | |
| Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators | 72604 | |
| Engineer officers, water transport | 72603 | |
| Deck officers, water transport | 72602 | |
| Air traffic controllers and related occupations | 72601 | |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | |
| Railway carmen/women | 72403 | |
| Managers in transportation | 70020 | |
| Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations | Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 | |
| Butchers- retail and wholesale | 63201 |
The Canadian Government introduced the new targeted system to help address labour shortages in each of the aforementioned fields. To qualify, candidates must have a minimum of 6 months of continuous work experience in one of these occupations obtained within the last 3 years.
There is also a special category for people who are proficient in French. Such candidates are eligible if they score 7 or higher in all language abilities in a French-language exam.
Apply for Targeted Express Entry (Complete Guide)
3 Benefits of the Category-Based Express Entry Draws
The new category-based Express Entry draws system has many distinct benefits. This includes:
1. Helping Employers
Canadian employers in many industries are experiencing worker shortages. Much of this is due to the demand for workers exceeding the supply available due to the time it takes such professionals to complete their education and acquire the necessary skills.
Setting up a special Express Entry sub-category for such workers allows them to enter the Canadian labour pool and help fill crucial job openings in the aforementioned fields.
2. Benefitting the Canadian Economy
Bringing in skilled workers in these fields also benefits the Canadian economy. These workers don’t just help address the current Canadian labour shortage; they also enable Canadian businesses to grow and expand, increasing Canada’s national output.
3. Preserving Canada’s French-Speaking Community
Canada’s main French-speaking province, Quebec, has historically faced a decline in French speakers. This is due to the influx of non-Francophone immigrants as well as younger Quebec residents moving to English-speaking provinces.
Adding a special French-speaking category to the targeted draws increases the number of French-speaking individuals in Canada and helps preserve the country’s Francophone community and culture.
How are Category-Based Draws Different?
The primary purpose of these targeted draws is to help address specific labour shortages using the immigration system. This is a significant shift from the earlier Express Entry draw system that didn’t single out workers based on specific occupations but rather based on whether they possessed skilled or semi-skilled work experience.
Lower CRS Score
In the past, all candidates in the Express Entry system were required to meet the minimum CRS cut-off score without any prioritization. The following data represents the difference between the CRS scores among the General Express Entry Draws and Category-Based Express Entry Draws:
| Date | Draw Type | Invitations | CRS Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 7, 2023 | French Language Proficiency | 2,300 | 439 |
| July 6, 2023 | Health Occupations | 1,500 | 463 |
| July 5, 2023 | STEM Occupations | 500 | 486 |
| July 4, 2023 | General (All-Program) | 700 | 511 |
It should be noted that occupation-specific immigration categories have existed within the Provincial immigration system for many years. For example, British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program has a Skill Immigration category designed to help various types of workers immigrate to the province based on their work experience.
Apply for Targeted Express Entry (Complete Guide)
Consultation and Reporting Requirements
The recent changes to the Immigration, Refugee, and Protection Act require the immigration minister to communicate with key stakeholders, such as employers, unions, workers, and immigration researchers from each province and territory to understand their needs.
Based on this, each targeted draw will be centered around different categories that update according to the province and territories’ most recent needs. The immigration minister is also required to provide full transparency about the consultation process to ensure the Canadian public is aware of decisions being made in the Express Entry system and how it will impact the country.
Future Expansion and Occupation List
The targeted Express Entry draw 2023 will likely change in the near future based on changes to labour needs. This means there is a good chance that more occupations will be added to it within the year. The current list of occupations can be found in the previously mentioned section.
Prospective immigrants with work experience in other occupations should keep a close eye on the targeted Express Entry draws, as their occupations could be added to the list at some point in the future.
Discuss Your Express Entry Profile with ELAAR
How Elaar Immigration Can Help?
The targeted Express Entry draws represent a huge shift in the way Canada selects immigration candidates. However, the pre-existing system is still being used, so this change is simply an addition that helps certain candidates.
If you would like to learn more about the targeted Express Entry draws and whether they will help you immigrate to Canada, please contact Elaar Immigration. Our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants closely monitors developments in Canada’s immigration system and can guide you about immigration to Canada through the program that offers you the highest chance of success.
For a limited time, eligible category-based Express Entry candidates can sign up with us for as low as CAD $999 to benefit from our comprehensive services, which include:
- Submission of a complete and accurate Express Entry profile and/or PNP Expression of Interest
- Support with preparing documents in advance in anticipation of receiving an ITA
- One-on-one ZOOM appointment with an RCIC to discuss your personalized case
- On-going support from an RCIC throughout the process and even after
Take the next step toward immigrating to Canada with Elaar Immigration’s assistance. Contact us today!
