In December 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced it will start running Express Entry draws that target candidates by occupation, instead of going strictly by CRS score.
This change was made possible by Bill C-19, which received Royal Assent on June 23, 2022. The bill gives the immigration minister the authority to invite candidates with specific in-demand skills.
Immigration minister Sean Fraser said the new approach will let IRCC pick candidates from the Express Entry pool based on Canada’s most pressing economic needs and labour shortages.
Why is Express Entry changing in 2023?
By 2030, about 9 million Canadians will have reached the retirement age of 65. There are fewer younger workers coming up behind them, and vacancies have been climbing. Canada is leaning on immigration to keep the workforce — and the economy — functioning.
The 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan already sets a target of around 500,000 new permanent residents per year by 2025. About 110,000 of those each year will come through Express Entry, which covers:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The full list of targeted occupations has not been confirmed. Healthcare and technology have been the most in-demand sectors over the past year, so they are likely to make the list. The minister said he would be consulting provinces, business councils, and other stakeholders before deciding which occupations to focus on.