Recently, the Canadian government has introduced category-based draws to invite candidates in the Express Entry pool with eligibility under a specific category. This decision forms part of the country’s attempt to meet its economic goal.
On the 3rd of August, the Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent out a total of 1,500 invites to candidates in the trades as part of its first-ever Express Entry Occupation Specific Draw of 2023. Candidates with the minimum required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 388 are eligible to apply under the latest Express Entry Draw.
The IRCC had declared its decision to conduct its first targeted draw for candidates with significant experience in trades professions, under Express Entry occupation specific draw. This category includes occupations like carpentry, welding, and plumbing. This latest Express Entry Draw will help the Canadian government attract more skilled workers into its construction sector.
The Canadian Express Entry system has gone through significant changes in the recent months. Former Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, had launched the category-based selection through Express Entry on 31st of May. This decision can be seen as the government’s attempt to address the labor shortages in Canada, by inviting skilled workers with eligible work experience through general invitation rounds.
This specific round of category-based selection understands the importance of skilled workers in Canada and views it as an effective solution in helping the construction sector with the required workforce.
The following table depicts the occupations that are eligible for the category-based Express Entry Draw conducted for trades workers.
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | 2 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 | 2 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | 2 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 | 2 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | 2 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 | 2 |
| Plumbers | 72300 | 2 |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 | 3 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | 2 |
What is the Express Entry Category Based Draw?
Express Entry category-based draws have been launched to extend invitations to applicants for permanent residence who fit into the following six categories:
- healthcare
- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
- transport
- agriculture and agri-food
- or, strong French language proficiency.
The additional Express Entry Draws held by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to be category-based. The other type of Express Entry Draws are invitations to apply (ITA) for Canada PR based on meeting the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off among all other candidates in the pool, as well as draws that invite candidates based on eligibility for a certain immigration pathway program, e.g., the Provincial Nominee Program.
What is the Express Entry System?
Express Entry is an electronically operated system used to manage and handle immigration applications from skilled workers. Eligible candidates are ranked on the basis of factors such as their age, educational qualifications, work experience, and language proficiency. The Canadian government holds Express Entry draws inviting the highest-scoring candidates to apply for Canada PR.
There are three Express Entry Programs, as has been mentioned below:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): for international skilled workers with work experience
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): for skilled workers qualified in a skilled trade
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): for skilled workers with Canadian work experience
If you become eligible for any of the above-listed programs, you may also apply for Express Entry through the Provincial Nominee Program. Upon nomination, you become eligible to earn extra points, which help you get an invitation to apply quickly.
List of Occupations Eligible for category-based draws:
| Category Name | Job Title(s) | NOC Number |
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 |
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 |
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 |
| Transport occupations | Managers in transportation | 70020 |
| Transport occupations | Railway carmen/women | 72403 |
| Transport occupations | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
| Transport occupations | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 |
| Transport occupations | Air traffic controllers and related occupations | 72601 |
| Transport occupations | Deck officers, water transport | 72602 |
| Transport occupations | Engineer officers, water transport | 72603 |
| Transport occupations | Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators | 72604 |
| Transport occupations | Transport truck drivers | 73300 |
| Transport occupations | Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors | 93200 |
| Trade occupations | Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 |
| Trade occupations | Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Trade occupations | Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Trade occupations | Plumbers | 72300 |
| Trade occupations | Carpenters | 72310 |
| Trade occupations | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Trade occupations | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Trade occupations | Machine fitters | 72405 |
| Trade occupations | Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 |
| Trade occupations | Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Engineering managers | 20010 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Architecture and science managers | 20011 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Computer and information systems managers | 20012 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Architects | 21200 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Landscape architects | 21201 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Urban and land use planners | 21202 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Land surveyors | 21203 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Data scientists | 21211 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Business systems specialists | 21221 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Information systems specialists | 21222 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Software engineers and designers | 21231 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Web designers | 21233 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Web developers and programmers | 21234 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers | 41400 |
| Healthcare occupations | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Healthcare occupations | Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Healthcare occupations | General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Healthcare occupations | Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Healthcare occupations | Dentists | 31110 |
| Healthcare occupations | Optometrists | 31111 |
| Healthcare occupations | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Healthcare occupations | Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Healthcare occupations | Psychologists | 31200 |
| Healthcare occupations | Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Healthcare occupations | Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Healthcare occupations | Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Healthcare occupations | Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| Healthcare occupations | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Healthcare occupations | Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Healthcare occupations | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Healthcare occupations | Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Healthcare occupations | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Healthcare occupations | Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Healthcare occupations | Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Healthcare occupations | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Healthcare occupations | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Healthcare occupations | Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Healthcare occupations | Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Healthcare occupations | Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Healthcare occupations | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Healthcare occupations | Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Healthcare occupations | Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 |
| Healthcare occupations | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Healthcare occupations | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Healthcare occupations | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Healthcare occupations | Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| Healthcare occupations | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Healthcare occupations | Educational counsellors | 41320 |
| Healthcare occupations | Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |