Canada's Express Entry | Fast-Track for Transport Talent

Meghna Rai Published:
March 15, 2024

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again made a significant move towards welcoming skilled immigrants to the country. In a recent Express Entry draw that was held on March 13, the department issued 975 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with work experience in Transport occupations. This draw marks the second issuance within the same week, demonstrating Canada's commitment to diversifying its workforce and addressing labor market needs.

In this draw, applicants were required to meet a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 430. Among the eligible candidates were individuals with expertise in various transport-related occupations, viz., aircraft assemblers, transport truck drivers, railway traffic controllers, etc. This draw comes on the heels of a general Express Entry draw conducted just a day prior, on March 12. During that draw, IRCC issued 2,850 ITAs to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 525. The consecutive draws underscore Canada's proactive approach to attracting skilled professionals from around the world. The transport occupations category draw that was held yesterday, is notably the first of its kind issued in 2024. It represents a targeted effort by IRCC to address specific needs within the transportation sector and ensure a steady influx of qualified individuals. The previous draw for transport occupations took place on December 20, 2023. However, the inception of category-based selection for individuals with experience in transport occupations dates back to September 20, 2023, marking a significant milestone in Canada's immigration framework.

In-demand National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes | Transport occupations sector

Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors (NOC 93200)
Transport truck drivers (NOC 73300)
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators (NOC 72604)
Engineer officers, water transport (NOC 72603)
Deck officers, water transport (NOC 72602)
Air traffic controllers and related occupations (NOC 72601)
Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors (NOC 72600)
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (NOC 72404)
Railway carmen/women (NOC 72403)
Managers in transportation (NOC 70020)

A chart depicting the CRS cut-off scores for the last 10 EE draws.

Source: Owlspriority Immigration internal, IRCC

The chart illustrates a noticeable pattern in the recent Express Entry draws conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and this trend has been received with enthusiasm. There has been a decrease in the cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, in each separate category, resulting in a higher number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) being issued to eligible candidates. This adjustment has been made to ensure that IRCC achieves its multi-year immigration target for 2024 to 26, aiming to welcome over 485,000 new immigrants by the end of 2024.

All About Express Entry’s Category-based Selection

What is the new category-based selection in Express Entry?

Category-based selection in Express Entry refers to the practice of holding rounds of invitations that specifically target candidates with certain attributes or qualifications. These attributes could include proficiency in French language or work experience in specific occupations facing shortages. In the context mentioned, the categories include:

French-language proficiency: candidates demonstrating proficiency in the French language.

Occupation-specific draws: candidates with work experience in the below five key occupations facing shortages:

Healthcare
STEM Professions (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Trades

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Transport
Agriculture and Agri-food

The rationale behind category-based EE Selection is to address labor shortages in critical sectors of the Canadian economy. Canada aims to welcome more skilled workers to alleviate these shortages, especially considering the anticipated retirement of up to nine million Canadians by 2030. The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, emphasizes the importance of skilled immigration in eliminating these shortages.

Check if you qualify for Express Entry. Check out our Settlement Resources to learn how to find employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.