Express Entry 2024 In A Glance

In 2024, Canada issued 98,803 ITAs through 52 Express Entry draws. From January to April, IRCC held both general and category-based draws, but after May, the focus shifted towards candidates in the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and those with French language skills. This has led to significant fluctuations in the number of draws and CRS cut-off scores depending on the program and category.

As of the latest data, there were 221,310 profiles in the Express Entry pool, a higher number than in 2023. In 2024, IRCC issued 11,463 fewer ITAs than in 2023, despite an increase in immigration targets by 27,890 admissions. The rise in candidate numbers led to higher CRS cut-off scores and significant changes in Express Entry draws, terminology, and program priorities compared to the previous year.

Here’s a comparison of the Express Entry draws and CRS ranges by category/stream//program for 2024 and 2023:

A projected trend for Express Entry in 2025

This year, several new policies were introduced that have significantly impacted how Express Entry selection draws have been carried out in 2024 and are expected to keep shaping the system in 2025.

In 2025, several key changes and trends will impact Canada's Express Entry system:

• Immigration Levels Plan: Immigration targets under the "Federal High-Skilled" allocation will increase to 124,590 admissions in 2025. However, overall immigration levels will decrease by about 20%, with federal pathways gaining more focus while provincial immigration allocations are reduced.
• Removal of CRS Points for Job Offers: CRS points for Canadian job offers will be eliminated, potentially lowering CRS scores across the pool. This change is expected to have significant but uncertain effects on CRS cut-off trends.
• Federal Economic Priorities: In 2025, the federal government will prioritize candidates in healthcare, trade occupations, and those with French-language proficiency to meet Canada's labour market and demographic needs. There will likely be more draws for these categories, particularly for French-speaking candidates, in line with Canada’s francophone immigration goals.
• In-Canada Focus: The "In-Canada Focus" category will prioritize candidates within Canada, including those from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), making up 66% of the Federal High-Skilled allocation.
  
  

What is Express Entry (EE) and how does it work?

Express Entry is an electronic selection system used by the Federal as well as Provincial governments of Canada [to select], as well as designated Canadian employers [to nominate] candidates for Canadian permanent residence under three of its popular economic [skilled] immigration programs. Candidates eligible for any of the above programs are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry Pool. It is based on their Core/Human capital factors such as age, work experience, education, and language ability in English and/or French, etc. And, based on scores, candidates are periodically invited (or nominated) for permanent residence.

What is the New Category-based selection in Express Entry?

Category-based selection in Express Entry is a new approach that targets specific groups of candidates based on their attributes or qualifications. This allows for rounds of invitations to focus on particular categories, such as proficiency in the French language or work experience in occupations experiencing shortages.

The categories for selection include

• Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)
• Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• French-language proficiency: Candidates demonstrating fluency in French
• Occupation-specific draws: Candidates with experience in occupations facing shortages in Canada, including:

  • Healthcare

  • STEM Professions (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

  • Trades

  • Transport

  • Agriculture and Agri-food

The rationale behind category-based EE Selection is to address labour 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.

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.