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 draw | Social class | CRS Cut-Off Score | Number of ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2023 | Health care | 476 | 500 |
| July 5, 2023 | Trunk | 486 | 500 |
| July 6, 2023 | Health care | 463 | 1,500 |
| July 7, 2023 | French | 439 | 2,300 |
| July 12, 2023 | French | 375 | 3,800 |
| August 2, 2023 | French | 435 | 800 |
| August 3, 2023 | Trades | 388 | 1,500 |
| September 20, 2023 | transportation | 435 | 1,000 |
| September 27, 2023 | French | 472 | 500 |
| September 28, 2023 | Agriculture and agri-food | 354 | 600 |
| October 25, 2023 | French | 486 | 300 |
| October 26, 2023 | Health care | 431 | 3,600 |
| December 7, 2023 | French | 470 | 1,000 |
| December 8, 2023 | Trunk | 481 | 5,900 |
| December 19, 2023 | Trades | 425 | 1,000 |
| December 20, 2023 | transportation | 435 | 670 |
| December 21, 2023 | Agriculture and agri-food | 386 | 400 |
| February 1, 2024 | French | 365 | 7,000 |
| February 14, 2024 | Health care | 422 | 3,500 |
| February 16, 2024 | Agriculture and agri-food | 437 | 150 |
| February 29, 2024 | French | 336 | 2,500 |
| March 13, 2024 | transportation | 430 | 975 |
| March 26, 2024 | French | 338 | 1,500 |
| April 11, 2024 | Trunk | 491 | 4,500 |
| April 24, 2024 | French | 410 | 1,400 |
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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