Category-Based Selection: A Targeted Approach
In May 2023, IRCC introduced category-based selection rounds to better target Express Entry candidates who can fill urgent workforce needs or help the department achieve specific demographic goals. After extensive consultations with stakeholders, IRCC identified these six key categories for selection:
- Healthcare occupations such as nurses, and caregivers
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- French-language proficiency
According to the Express Entry year-end report for 2023, candidates in the STEM category received the highest number of ITAs throughout the year, totaling 32,111. French-language candidates followed, with 15,812 ITAs issued. However, a recently shared Access to Information Request suggests that French-speaking candidates are expected to receive the highest number of ITAs in 2024, reflecting IRCC’s ongoing commitment to supporting Canada’s francophone communities and addressing bilingual workforce needs.
These changes in selection criteria underscore’s IRCC’s innovative adaptive approach to managing economic immigration, ensuring that the most suitable candidates are invited to meaningfully contribute to Canada’s economy and society while simultaneously earning a decent wage. The shift toward category-based selection, along with the continued use of program-specific draws, illustrates a balanced strategy aimed at meeting both immediate labor market demands and long-term demographic objectives.
