According to Maple News, the Express Entry system has seen a noticeable dip in competitiveness for the second consecutive month. Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 4,672 candidate profiles with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores between 501 and 600 have exited the Express Entry pool. This development largely stems from a major Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw held on January 7, which significantly reshaped the distribution of top-tier candidates.
Express Entry draws are designed to invite the highest-ranking candidates first, often making placements within the 501–600 range highly competitive. With the recent draw removing a large volume of profiles from this score bracket, candidates with lower CRS scores now stand a better chance of receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in upcoming rounds.
The latest data, comparing pool distribution between January 4 and January 19, reveals that the 501–600 score range was the only category to experience a decline in numbers — dropping from 21,013 profiles to 16,341. This is a sharper reduction than the previous month’s figures, when 4,622 profiles in the same range exited the pool.
Meanwhile, most other CRS score ranges saw moderate increases. Notably, the 471–480 and 461–470 brackets each added over 500 and 400 new profiles respectively. Despite a drop in the 501–600 group, the Express Entry pool grew slightly overall, increasing from 236,554 to 237,120 profiles.
This shift suggests a short-term easing of competition in the Express Entry pool. For many hopefuls with scores previously considered marginal, this could be an ideal window of opportunity to secure an ITA.
Furthermore, federal immigration draws continue to be shaped by both CRS scores and category-based priorities, such as language skills, provincial nominations, or work experience in high-demand fields. Even with the growth in pool size, the redistribution of profiles signals positive momentum for lower-ranked applicants.
Going forward, the dynamics of the pool will depend on upcoming provincial nominations, targeted draws, and shifts in immigration policy. However, the present landscape bodes well for candidates with scores in the 470s and below, who are now closer to the cutoff thresholds from previous draws.