Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially launched the first Express Entry draw of 2024. On January 10, the federal department invited 1,510 candidates from the general pool to submit applications for permanent residency.
To be considered in this all-program round, candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 546. General draws like this one assess candidates from all Express Entry-managed pathways, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), without targeting any specific occupations or personal characteristics.
This draw follows a record-breaking December that saw a flurry of Express Entry activity. IRCC conducted seven draws in the final month of 2023—the highest number in any single month that year. This surge came after a six-week pause in draws between October 26 and December 6, with IRCC not specifying the cause of the interruption.
The December draws included both general and category-based selections. On December 18, 1,325 general-category candidates were invited with a minimum score of 542. Subsequent targeted draws focused on candidates in trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, STEM occupations, and French-language speakers. CRS cutoffs in these category-based draws were lower, ranging from 386 to 481.
One of the notable December draws was on December 8, when a significant 5,900 invitations were issued to candidates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations, requiring a minimum CRS score of 481. French-speaking candidates also received increased attention, with several draws over past months prioritizing language proficiency.
The pattern of combining general and targeted draws aligns with IRCC’s ongoing efforts to balance economic needs and demographic goals. Category-based draws, introduced in 2023, aim to fill critical labor shortages and support the country’s bilingualism mandate.
As Maple News continues to monitor Express Entry trends, candidates are advised to maintain updated profiles to maximize their chances in both all-program and category-specific rounds.
The Express Entry system remains Canada’s flagship pathway for skilled immigrants, contributing significantly to the country’s long-term economic growth and workforce development strategy.