A new report from the Globe and Mail sheds light on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Express Entry category-based selection targets for 2023. The data, obtained from IRCC, highlights a significant emphasis on recruiting professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
IRCC introduced category-based Express Entry draws to achieve specific economic goals, with six categories in total. The report indicates that between 28% and 31% of Express Entry invitations this year are expected to be extended to candidates with recent experience in STEM jobs, including roles like software developers and data scientists.
While there has been one round of STEM invites so far, the target for STEM professions is notably higher compared to other occupation categories. For instance, the target range for candidates with French proficiency is 11% to 15%, while it's nine percent to 12% for specific healthcare occupations, three to four percent for trades, and one to two percent each for transportation and agriculture occupations.
Express Entry holds three types of draws:
Category-Based Express Entry Selection:
IRCC's category-based draws prioritize candidates with strong French proficiency or work experience in specific fields:
These categories were determined following public consultation, labor market insights, and input from stakeholders, IRCC partners, provinces, and territories. Since its introduction, category-based draws have invited thousands to apply for permanent residence in fields like healthcare, trades, and French language proficiency.