Maple News reports that April 2024 witnessed continued momentum in Canada’s Express Entry system, with four rounds of invitations reflecting consistency in draw types and volume when compared to March. This pattern suggests emerging trends in Canada’s immigration strategy for the remainder of the year.
In April, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held two general draws and two category-based draws. The general rounds occurred on April 10 and 23, inviting 1,280 and 2,095 candidates respectively, with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs of 549 and 529—figures that remain significantly higher than in previous years.
The category-based draws were conducted on April 11 and 24. The first targeted candidates with work experience in STEM occupations, issuing 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a CRS threshold of 491. The second focused on applicants with strong French language proficiency, issuing 1,400 ITAs to those with a minimum CRS score of 410.
Cumulatively, 35,970 ITAs have been issued through Express Entry as of April 2024, progressing toward IRCC’s annual goal of 110,770 ITAs. These consistent draw figures—three to five each month, split between general and targeted selections—underscore the government’s commitment to meeting immigration targets while prioritizing sectors critical to the Canadian economy.
The Express Entry pool itself continues to grow. As of April 23, 2024, 214,697 candidates were active in the pool, reflecting a net increase of 2,753 profiles from the previous month. This growth was observed across all CRS score brackets, indicating broad interest and competition among applicants.
Notably, the sustained high CRS cut-offs suggest that candidates must maintain competitive profiles, particularly for general draws. However, the category-based draws offer valuable opportunities for individuals with in-demand skills or language abilities to receive invitations with lower CRS thresholds.
Maple News observes that the Express Entry system is becoming increasingly nuanced, with IRCC leveraging category-based draws to address labor market gaps while maintaining pressure in the general rounds to attract top-tier candidates.
As this trend continues, prospective immigrants are encouraged to strengthen their Express Entry profiles by gaining additional work experience, improving language scores, or targeting categories of current demand such as STEM and bilingual proficiency.