Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has completed its third Express Entry draw this week, inviting 3,750 candidates in a category-based selection targeting healthcare professionals. To be eligible for this round, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 445.
This healthcare-focused draw is the second category-based selection of the week and follows a similar initiative on July 4, which issued 1,800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in skilled trades occupations. Earlier in the week, on July 2, IRCC also issued 920 ITAs through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draw, requiring a significantly higher minimum CRS score of 739.
Together, this brings the total number of Express Entry invitations issued this week to 6,470 — the highest volume of ITAs in a single week since April, indicating a robust pace for Canada’s permanent residency admissions through economic streams.
Since the introduction of category-based selection draws in May 2023, the IRCC has begun fine-tuning its Express Entry program to meet labor market demands more strategically. The latest draws reflect Canada’s emphasis on high-demand sectors like healthcare and skilled trades, sectors facing labor shortages nationwide.
Maple News notes that this marks an acceleration in program-specific draws — a trend that resumed in full force since May 30, with a strong focus on the PNP. These program-specific rounds are designed to target candidates based on their economic potential in Canada and include those applying through systems such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Candidates selected through the PNP usually achieve higher CRS scores due to receiving an additional 600 points as part of an enhanced nomination. This gives provinces the ability to nominate Express Entry candidates based on regional labor needs, helping to spread immigration across the country more evenly.
The renewed focus on program-specific draws by IRCC also aligns with its longer-term strategy of stabilizing Canada’s growing temporary resident population. By prioritizing temporary residents with work, study, or visitor status already in Canada for permanent residence pathways — particularly through programs like the CEC and PNP — the government aims to consolidate immigration levels while addressing workforce gaps.
This approach supports Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, which outlines the annual targets for newcomers under the Federal High Skilled category, all while transitioning eligible temporary residents to permanent status. It’s a practical move to meet both short-term labor needs and long-term demographic sustainability goals.