On May 31, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the categories that will be targeted in the category-based Express Entry draws expected to begin in Canada this summer. These categories were chosen to fill vacant positions throughout Canada and address the labor shortage. Here is a summary of the categories and some key details:
Healthcare: There were 143,695 job vacancies in the Healthcare and Social Assistance category in Q4 2022, with high demand for healthcare workers in provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
STEM Professions: Occupations in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) had 56,915 job vacancies in Q4 2022. These professions are in high demand, especially in provinces like Ontario and Quebec.
Trades: The trades category, including wholesale and retail trades, had significant job vacancies. Wholesale trades had 30,930 vacancies, and retail trades had 108,795 vacancies. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia had the highest number of job vacancies in this category.
Transport: The transportation and warehousing category had 43,700 job vacancies, with Ontario having the highest number of vacancies.
Agriculture and Agri-food: The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting category had 10,535 job vacancies. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia had the highest number of vacancies in this sector.
The aim of the category-based draws is to invite highly skilled candidates with proficiency in French or work experience in these targeted areas. These draws will support the admission of in-demand professionals across Canada.
Please note that the specific dates for the category-based draws have not been announced yet.