The IRCC has announced new Express Entry selection categories.

Sean Fraser, Canada’s Immigration Minister, has announced the start of category-based selection lotteries for Express Entry hopefuls.

Express Entry candidates with strong French language skills or work experience in the following fields will be prioritized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

Allowing IRCC to invite more talented workers in these specific fields, according to the minister, will help Canada’s goal to invite in-demand experts into communities around the country.

• healthcare
• science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
• trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
• transport
• agriculture and agri-food

A complete list of qualified occupations under the new categories can be seen here.

The new category draws are slated to begin later this summer.

Why are new Express Entry categories being introduced?

The new categories are intended to fill open positions across Canada. Immigration is regarded as a critical component in alleviating labour shortages and increasing the dominance of the French language in French minority communities outside of Quebec.

“Everywhere I go, I hear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” Fraser adds. “These modifications to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they require to grow and succeed.” We can also expand our economy and assist businesses with labour shortages, while boosting the number of French-proficient applicants to ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities. Simply put, the immigration system in Canada has never been more sensitive to the country’s social and economic demands.”

Following revisions to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022, category-based draws were planned to begin this year. The revisions empower the minister to pick immigrants based on important characteristics that promote Canada’s economic interests.

How were the categories determined?

The categories were chosen in accordance with legislative mandates that the Minister engage in public consultation with provinces and territories, industry representatives, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organisations, and immigration researchers and practitioners.

Each year, IRCC will report to Parliament on

• the categories chosen the previous year
• why and how they were chosen
• the instructions to establish a category
• the number of invitations issued for each category