The latest trends in Canada’s Express Entry system offer insights into recent immigration draws and the composition of candidates in the pool.
Recent Express Entry Draws
In November, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held six Express Entry draws, inviting candidates under various categories such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and category-based selection. These draws demonstrated the government’s focus on healthcare and French language proficiency, aligned with its updated immigration priorities.
Key highlights from November include:
- Healthcare Category Focus: A draw on November 20 invited 3,000 candidates from healthcare occupations, the largest of the month, accounting for a significant 69% of all invitations issued in category-based draws.
- Smaller CEC and PNP Draws: These categories saw smaller invitation rounds, maintaining higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for eligibility compared to previous months.
Below is a summary of November’s draws:
| Date | Draw Type | Invitations Issued | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 20 | Healthcare Occupations | 3,000 | 463 |
| November 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
| November 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 174 | 816 |
| November 15 | French Language Proficiency | 800 | 478 |
| November 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 547 |
| November 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 812 |
Patterns and Future Outlook
IRCC’s Immigration Levels Plan emphasizes candidates with in-demand skills, particularly in healthcare, trades, and French language proficiency. The department also prioritizes PNP rounds before other draws, a trend consistent since mid-2024.
Over the past three months, ITAs issued through Express Entry have remained steady, with 5,507 invitations in November, 5,961 in October, and 5,911 in September.
December Express Entry Pool Composition
As of December 1, the Express Entry pool had 218,490 candidates, distributed across CRS score ranges. A notable concentration exists in the 351-400 range, with over 50,000 candidates. However, high-scoring candidates (above 471 CRS) maintain a competitive edge in the draws.
Here is a breakdown of candidate distribution by CRS score range:
| CRS Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 0-300 | 5,615 |
| 301-350 | 22,280 |
| 351-400 | 50,609 |
| 401-410 | 11,239 |
| 411-420 | 11,602 |
| 421-430 | 11,217 |
| 431-440 | 12,313 |
| 441-450 | 11,219 |
| 451-460 | 11,872 |
| 461-470 | 12,521 |
| 471-480 | 14,371 |
| 481-490 | 11,905 |
| 491-500 | 12,316 |
| 501-600 | 18,673 |
| 601+ | 738 |
These trends highlight the growing competitiveness within the Express Entry system and the importance of tailored strategies for candidates aiming to maximize their CRS scores.