Canada Introduces Significant Updates to Express Entry Occupation-Specific Draws

Canada has unveiled important updates to its Express Entry system for 2025. These changes introduce a new category for education-related occupations while removing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), transport, and agriculture jobs from targeted draws.

These modifications aim to address Canada’s evolving labor shortages and prioritize key sectors like healthcare, social services, trades, and education.

Key Changes in Express Entry for 2025

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the new Express Entry categories. The latest updates include:

• A new category for education occupations, focusing on teachers, childcare educators, and instructors for individuals with disabilities.
• Continued prioritization of healthcare and social services occupations, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, and psychologists.
• Ongoing focus on trades, targeting skilled professionals such as carpenters, plumbers, and electricians.
• Emphasis on French-language proficiency to support Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

These changes demonstrate Canada’s commitment to aligning immigration with labor market needs. This ensures economic growth while supporting vital industries.

Focus on Canadian Experience Class

A significant shift in the Express Entry system is the increased emphasis on candidates with Canadian work experience. The government plans to primarily invite candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) for permanent residence in 2025.

This approach helps newcomers who are already integrated into the workforce transition smoothly to permanent status. It also aids businesses in retaining skilled workers who contribute to Canada’s economy.

Occupation-Based Draws in 2025

Starting in 2025, category-based draws under Express Entry will invite candidates with work experience in priority sectors:

• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Trades occupations
• Education occupations
• French-language proficiency

This shift removes three key 2024 categories: STEM occupations, transport occupations, and agriculture jobs. While these sectors remain important, the government prioritizes areas with more acute labor shortages.

Aligning with Immigration Levels Plan

These updates align with Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which reduced the overall newcomer target from 500,000 to 395,000 for this year. The plan also divides the Federal High Skilled Class into two categories: Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus.

The Economic Priorities category targets 41,700 newcomers and focuses on the identified high-demand occupations. In contrast, the In-Canada Focus category aims to invite immigrants already in Canada, targeting 82,980 newcomers.

Additionally, Canada aims for 8.5% of newcomers to be French-speaking, representing 29,325 individuals.

Why These Changes?

Canada’s decision to update Express Entry draws responds to specific labor shortages while ensuring sustainable economic growth. The education sector faces rising demand for skilled workers, particularly in teaching and childcare. Similarly, healthcare and social services require targeted immigration solutions.

By shifting its focus, Canada seeks to:

• Attract and retain skilled professionals in high-demand sectors.
• Support communities needing essential services.
• Strengthen its commitment to increasing Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

Impact on Express Entry Candidates

For prospective immigrants, these changes mean:

• STEM, transport, and agriculture professionals will no longer benefit from targeted draws.
• Education professionals now have clearer pathways to permanent residence.
• Healthcare, social services, and trade workers remain in high demand, improving their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
• Francophone candidates have strong opportunities for immigration, as the government seeks to bolster French-speaking communities outside Quebec.

How Express Entry Works Now

The Express Entry system remains Canada’s primary economic immigration pathway. It manages applications for three major programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Candidates enter the Express Entry pool and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors like age, education, and language proficiency. Those meeting the requirements for category-based draws will have additional opportunities to be invited.

Conclusion

Employers in healthcare, trades, and education can expect greater support from Canada’s immigration system. This focused approach will help businesses struggling with labor shortages in these areas. Meanwhile, industries previously targeted may need to explore alternative immigration pathways.

As Canada prepares for the future, the Express Entry system aims to align immigration policies with workforce demands. This evolution reflects an ongoing effort to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers in critical sectors.