Canada’s Express Entry immigration selection system is set to introduce new occupation-based draws this summer, targeting 82 occupations across five fields. The draws will prioritize candidates with work experience in healthcare, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions, trades such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors, transportation, and agriculture and agri-food. Additionally, candidates with strong French language proficiency (at least NCLC 7 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking) will also be eligible.
The targeted draws are scheduled to start later this summer, although the exact date has not been announced. To be selected, candidates must have an Express Entry profile and meet the eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
It’s important to note that the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will still be considered for Express Entry draws. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to hold draws where candidates are invited without reference to the new occupation-based categories. These draws may include all-program draws or program-specific draws.
IRCC will rank candidates in the Express Entry pool based on the category requirements and invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. The eligibility criteria are similar across the five categories, requiring candidates to have at least six months of continuous work experience within the past three years in a single eligible occupation. Candidates invited based on French language proficiency must also meet the language requirements.
IRCC will continue to invite candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination through general and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific rounds, as these candidates have demonstrated their skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the respective province or territory’s economy.
The introduction of the new categories aims to support Canada’s economic goals and promote the growth of French-speaking communities outside of Quebec, protecting French as one of Canada’s official languages. The categories address labor shortages in various industries and contribute to the growth of French-speaking communities.
The selection of the new categories followed extensive discussions and consultations with stakeholders, including provinces and territories, industry members, unions, employers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners.
The categories may change annually based on an IRCC report to parliament, which includes an overview of the previous year’s categories, their selection process, instructions for establishing a category, and the number of invitations issued for each category. The report also provides information on category-based selection in the Express Entry Year-End Report.
Here is the full list of occupations being targeted:
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Education counsellors | 41320 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Architects | 21200 |
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Data scientists | 21211 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Engineering managers | 20010 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 |
| Land surveyors | 21203 |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 |
| Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers | 41400 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 |
| Urban and land use planners | 21202 |
| Web designers | 21233 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 |
| Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors | 93200 |
| Transport truck drivers | 73300 |
| Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators | 72604 |
| Engineer officers, water transport | 72603 |
| Deck officers, water transport | 72602 |
| Air traffic controllers and related occupations | 72601 |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
| Railway carmen/women | 72403 |
| Managers in transportation | 70020 |
| Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 |
| Butchers- retail and wholesale | 63201 |
