{"id":132270,"date":"2023-12-29T19:04:42","date_gmt":"2023-12-30T00:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/canada-express-entry-year-in-review-occupation-specific-draws-herald-new-era\/"},"modified":"2023-12-29T19:18:20","modified_gmt":"2023-12-30T00:18:20","slug":"canada-express-entry-year-in-review-occupation-specific-draws-herald-new-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/canada-express-entry-year-in-review-occupation-specific-draws-herald-new-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada Express Entry Year In Review: Occupation-Specific Draws Herald New Era"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Canada\u2019s Express Entry<\/a> system underwent a significant change in 2023, as it moved from draws based on immigration programs to draws based on occupations.<\/p>

For the first time in the selection system\u2019s history, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada officials were able to target specific groups of occupations based on the new National Occupational System 2021 launched a year earlier.<\/p>

It meant that as well as all-program and Provincial Nominee Program draw rounds, there were also draws targeted at healthcare occupations, STEM occupations, transport occupations and more.<\/p>

The idea was to make the flagship selection system more responsive to labour market needs, allowing it to target specific areas where Canada has shortages.<\/p>

Did it work? The answer is that it is too soon to tell, although the number and variety of draws changed significantly in the last year, especially following the first occupation-specific draw, which targeted 500 healthcare workers on June 28.<\/p>

What is Express Entry?<\/h3>

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on January 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the\u00a0<\/strong>Federal Skilled Worker Program<\/strong><\/a>, the\u00a0<\/strong>Federal Skilled Trades Program\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>the\u00a0<\/strong>Canada Experience Class<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and parts of the\u00a0<\/strong>Provincial Nomination Programs<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>

In total, 82 NOC codes were made part of the draws, grouped into five broader categories, namely healthcare, STEM, trades, transport and farming and food. Draws targeting French speakers were also introduced.<\/p>

Occupations Targeted Under Express Entry Draws<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1. Healthcare<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Occupation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 NOC code\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 TEER category\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Audiologists and speech language pathologists<\/p><\/td>

31112<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Chiropractors<\/p><\/td>

31201<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Dentists<\/p><\/td>

31110<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Dieticians and nutritionists<\/p><\/td>

31121<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Education counsellors<\/p><\/td>

41320<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

General practitioners and family physicians<\/p><\/td>

31102<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Instructors of persons with disabilities<\/p><\/td>

42203<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment<\/p><\/td>

31204<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Licensed practical nurses<\/p><\/td>

32101<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Massage therapists<\/p><\/td>

32201<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations<\/p><\/td>

33101<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Medical laboratory technologists<\/p><\/td>

32120<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Medical radiation technologists<\/p><\/td>

32121<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Medical sonographers<\/p><\/td>

32122<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates<\/p><\/td>

33102<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Nurse practitioners<\/p><\/td>

31302<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors<\/p><\/td>

31300<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Occupational therapists<\/p><\/td>

31203<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Optometrists<\/p><\/td>

31111<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Other assisting occupations in support of health services<\/p><\/td>

33109<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Other practitioners of natural healing<\/p><\/td>

32209<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating<\/p><\/td>

31209<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment<\/p><\/td>

32109<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Paramedical occupations<\/p><\/td>

32102<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants<\/p><\/td>

33103<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals<\/p><\/td>

31303<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Physiotherapists<\/p><\/td>

31202<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Psychologists<\/p><\/td>

31200<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses<\/p><\/td>

31301<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists<\/p><\/td>

32103<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine<\/p><\/td>

31100<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Specialists in surgery<\/p><\/td>

31101<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies<\/p><\/td>

41301<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists<\/p><\/td>

32200<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Veterinarians<\/p><\/td>

31103<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2. STEM<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Occupation<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 NOC code<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 TEER category<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Architects<\/p><\/td>

21200<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Architecture and science managers<\/p><\/td>

20011<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Business systems specialists<\/p><\/td>

21221<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Civil Engineers<\/p><\/td>

21300<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Computer and information systems managers<\/p><\/td>

20012<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)<\/p><\/td>

21311<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Computer systems developers and programmers<\/p><\/td>

21230<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Cybersecurity specialists<\/p><\/td>

21220<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Data scientists<\/p><\/td>

21211<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Database analysts and data administrators<\/p><\/td>

21223<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Electrical and electronics engineers<\/p><\/td>

21310<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Engineering managers<\/p><\/td>

20010<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Industrial and manufacturing engineers<\/p><\/td>

21321<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Information systems specialists<\/p><\/td>

21222<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Land surveyors<\/p><\/td>

21203<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Landscape Architects<\/p><\/td>

21201<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries<\/p><\/td>

21210<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Metallurgical and materials engineers<\/p><\/td>

21322<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers<\/p><\/td>

41400<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Software developers and programmers<\/p><\/td>

21232<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Software engineers and designers<\/p><\/td>

21231<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Urban and land use planners<\/p><\/td>

21202<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Web designers<\/p><\/td>

21233<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Web developers and programmers<\/p><\/td>

21234<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3. Trades<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Occupation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 NOC code\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 TEER category<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Residential and commercial installers and servicers<\/p><\/td>

73200<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Elevator constructors and mechanics<\/p><\/td>

72406<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Machine fitters<\/p><\/td>

72405<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics<\/p><\/td>

72402<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics<\/p><\/td>

72400<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Carpenters<\/p><\/td>

72310<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Plumbers<\/p><\/td>

72300<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Electricians (except industrial and power system)<\/p><\/td>

72200<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Welders and related machine operators<\/p><\/td>

72106<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers<\/p><\/td>

72014<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4. Transport<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Occupation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 NOC code\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 TEER category\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors<\/p><\/td>

93200<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Transport truck drivers<\/p><\/td>

73300<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators<\/p><\/td>

72604<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Engineer officers, water transport<\/p><\/td>

72603<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Deck officers, water transport<\/p><\/td>

72602<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Air traffic controllers and related occupations<\/p><\/td>

72601<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors<\/p><\/td>

72600<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors<\/p><\/td>

72404<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Railway carmen\/women<\/p><\/td>

72403<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Managers in transportation<\/p><\/td>

70020<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5. Agriculture and Agri-Food<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Occupation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 NOC code\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

2021 TEER category<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services<\/p><\/td>

82031<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors<\/p><\/td>

82030<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Butchers- retail and wholesale<\/p><\/td>

63201<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This is not to say that all-program draws stopped in 2023. They still accounted for the vast majority of Invitations to Apply as IRCC issued the second most ITAs in a calendar year in the history of the program, at 110,266.<\/p>

It was a dramatic shift through the gears compared to 2022 when just 46,538 ITAs were issued as Canada tried to reduce a processing backlog built up during the COVID-19 pandemic. This backlog still persists in many immigration categories, although not in the skilled worker class.<\/p>

Still, 2023 was second only to 2021 in terms of the number of ITAs issued, and only by just over 4,000. This is more remarkable given that 2021 was the year of the record individual draw featuring 27,332 ITAs for Canadian Experience Class candidates.<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Despite the high number of ITAs, IRCC officials still suspended draws for the month of November in 2023. There was never a clear explanation given for the suspension, with some speculation over whether a technical failure was to blame.<\/p>

However, draws returned in December and thousands of ITAs were issued in the build up to Christmas, including four draws in a week at one stage.<\/p>

Watch<\/strong><\/p>