According to a new report reviewed by Maple News, foreign work experience played a more crucial role than Canadian work experience for those invited to apply for permanent residence (PR) through Express Entry in 2024. The report, released on November 3, 2025, offers a comprehensive overview of trends in the Express Entry system over the past year.
While the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) led with the highest number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs), accounting for 27% or 26,500 of all ITAs, analytics reveal a surprising trend: over one-third of successful candidates had no Canadian work experience at all. In contrast, only 1% lacked foreign work experience, and 56% had two years or less of Canadian experience. These figures challenge assumptions that onshore work is the dominant pathway to PR.
Foreign nationals residing in Canada still dominated the applicant pool, with a significant number of ITAs going to candidates already in the country. Indian nationals emerged once again as the top recipients of ITAs, securing over four times more invitations than the next most common source country, Cameroon.
The report also breaks down ITA distribution by Express Entry program categories. CEC draws led the chart, followed by the French-language proficiency category, which issued 23,000 ITAs (23%). Notably, the French-speaking category had the lowest average Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off at 409 points, making it the most accessible stream in terms of CRS thresholds. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws came in third, issuing 15,483 invitations and posting the highest average CRS cut-off at 725.
Beyond these major categories, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also held specialized draws in 2024 targeting professionals in STEM, agriculture, and agri-food sectors, as well as general all-program draws. However, these types of draws have yet to reappear in 2025.
The findings suggest that candidates with strong foreign credentials and work histories—especially in targeted occupational or linguistic groups—continue to have significant advantages in Canada’s evolving Express Entry landscape. Policymakers’ strategic focus on diversity, labor shortages, and Francophone immigration is evident in these shifts.
For prospective candidates, this data highlights the continued relevance of building a strong profile beyond Canadian borders and aligning with in-demand skills or language brackets. Maple News will continue to monitor and report on the latest developments in Canada’s immigration programs.