Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 1,800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its latest category-based Express Entry draw targeting candidates in skilled trade occupations.
The draw, held on October 24, required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 433 — slightly lower than the 436-cutoff in July’s last trade-focused draw. This marks the first time since early July that the IRCC has invited skilled trade workers in a category-based round, reaffirming Canada’s focus on building its labor force through targeted pathways.
This was also the third Express Entry draw this week. On October 23, IRCC invited 400 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with a CRS score of at least 539. A day earlier, on October 22, 648 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates were selected with a minimum CRS score of 791 — highlighting a continued trend of back-to-back draws targeting different classifications of applicants.
Since June 2023, IRCC has been holding more category-specific draws under Express Entry, focusing on French-language proficiency, healthcare, STEM professionals, transport experts, and now once again, tradespeople. This shift in strategy allows Canada to address urgent labor market shortages while meeting federal immigration targets.
IRCC’s approach in recent months has also emphasized domestic candidates — individuals already living and working in Canada with temporary status. This aligns with the government’s dual objective: reducing reliance on temporary residents while still meeting annual immigration targets outlined in its Immigration Levels Plan.
The current immigration plan aims to welcome 110,770 new permanent residents through Express Entry in 2024. However, official figures confirming progress toward this target have yet to be released. Notably, most candidates who receive ITAs in late 2024 are expected to become permanent residents in 2025, given IRCC’s six-month processing standard.
All eyes are now on the next iteration of the Immigration Levels Plan, expected by November 1, which will lay out Canada’s permanent residency targets for 2025 to 2027. Observers anticipate further emphasis on economic immigration and sector-specific talent pools.
As Express Entry evolves to better align with labor market realities, draws like this one highlight the continued importance of skilled trades in shaping Canada’s workforce of the future.