Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry system has seen notable expansion in 2024, issuing more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) compared to the same time last year. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted 84,874 ITAs so far in 2024, surpassing the 81,948 issued by September 20 in 2023. This uptick coincides with IRCC’s continued use of category-based selection draws, a policy shift introduced in mid-2023.
Category-based draws allow IRCC to prioritize candidates who bring specific human capital strengths—such as work experience in high-demand sectors or strong French language skills—regardless of their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. These draws aim to better align immigration with Canada’s economic needs and long-term demographic goals.
Currently, IRCC targets six key categories for these specialized draws: healthcare, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, and French language proficiency. By focusing on these in-demand sectors, the government seeks to streamline the integration of skilled newcomers into the labour market.
The Express Entry system itself has been active through 37 draws so far in 2024, spanning nine different categories and stream types. On average, each draw has resulted in roughly 2,294 candidates receiving ITAs, though the size of each draw can vary significantly based on the category and strategic priorities at play.
This increase in ITAs comes as part of Canada’s broader immigration strategy. Under the 2024 Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government aims to admit 110,770 new permanent residents through the Express Entry system—up from a target of 82,800 in 2023. These numbers fall under the Federal High Skilled category, which covers Express Entry candidates who eventually land in Canada.
Maple News notes that Canada’s strategic shifts in immigration policy, particularly through category-based selection, demonstrate a more agile approach to addressing labour shortages and attracting the talent the country urgently needs. As the year progresses, further changes in draw frequency and profile may continue to reshape the immigration landscape.
For skilled professionals around the world, the evolving structure of Express Entry offers non-traditional pathways to Canadian permanent residence that extend beyond simply having the highest CRS score.