Express Entry annual report 2022 was made public by IRCC recently. The department typically releases the annual report every year, and the 2022 report appears to be the most recent version.
The federal government uses the Express Entry system to tackle immigration applications. It hires skilled workers from foreign countries who seek to obtain Canadian Permanent Residence.
This application system took effect in 2015 and deals with three primary economic-class programs. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, FSTP, and the CEC are the three chief programs under Express Entry.
Besides this, Express Entry also aligns partially with the Provincial Nominee Program. However, PNP candidates must also have eligibility for at least one of the three programs to arrive in Canada through Express Entry.
Note: The data covered here is between January to December 2022.
Express Entry annual report 2022 was made public by IRCC
The annual report 2022 about Express Entry claimed that the number of profiles submitted was comparatively less than those submitted in 2021. This depicts a reduction of 3 percent compared to 2021. On the other hand, there is a 19 percent increase in the number of profile submissions compared to 2020. Of all the profiles, 74 percent were eligible for one immigration program under Express Entry. This figure remains the same as in 2021.
238,382 profile submissions took place on men’s behalf compared to women’s profile submissions of nearly 189,881. The overall percentage of men submitting their profiles was 56 percent, while for women, it was 44 percent. This too, remains the same as of 2021. For men, the profile submission percentage with eligibility under one program remains constant between 2020 and 2022. It is 71 percent for men.
On the other hand, the women’s profile submissions showed a bit of a rise from 2022, which is 78 percent.
Maximum profile submissions under Express Entry had CRS scores between 301 and 500
The scores under the Comprehensive Ranking System rank Express Entry candidates against each other on the basis of human capital factors. The selection factors include age, occupation, work experience, language abilities, and education.
The report further claimed that the Express Entry system constantly changes the CRS scores, and hence, the Express Entry pool is dynamic. The eligible candidates, through their latest submissions, result in the change of CRS scores.
However, every year, eligible candidates witnessed a CRS score between 301 and 500 at the time of their profile submissions. This is despite the overall decrease in the eligible profile submissions in 2022.
Candidates can access extra CRS points if they have acquired a Canadian education, have more vital French language skills, and have siblings residing in Canada. 55 percent of candidates couldn’t fulfill the parameters to access extra points among the other profile submissions made in 2022. However, in 2020, the percentage of such candidates was 63 percent, and in 2021 it was 58 percent. 2022, the reduction was still less than in the previous two years. This also implies that more candidates are eligible for at least one type of category to get extra points. 23 percent of candidates fulfilled the parameters of Canadian education, while 14 percent had siblings in Canada.
Who obtained ITAs to apply for Canadian PR via Express Entry?
Draw-wise ITAs issued in 2022
In 2022, IRCC conducted as many as twenty-four Express Entry draws and issued at least 46,539 invitations. However, this number is a decreased version compared to the 114,431 ITAs issued in 2021. Perhaps this is why Express Entry temporarily paused ITAs sent to the candidates of the Federal High Skilled programs. Also, it decided to continue only with PNP-specific invitation rounds between September 2021 and July 2022.
Additionally, due to this temporary pause, the maximum number of ITAs were sent to candidates under two programs in 2022. This implies that 19,258 ITAs were sent to PNP candidates, while 18,895 ITAs were issued to Canadian Experience Class candidates.
The rest of the 8,386 ITAs were issued to FSWP candidates, while FSTP candidates didn’t receive any ITAs in 2022.
Gender-wise ITAs issued in 2022
A majority of the invitations in 2022 were issued to men, nearly 58 percent. This accounts for a similar percentage of men who made eligible profile submissions out of the total profile submissions. Perceiving the program type, it is evident that the number of men receiving ITAs was more than the number of women. This implies that 42 percent of men received ITAs under CEC, compared to 39 percent of women. On the other hand, under PNP, 43 percent of men received invitations compared to 39 percent of women.
Age-wise ITAs issued in 2022
In 2022, the most significant group of candidates that received ITAs were between 20 and 29, and they were nearly 50 percent. Additionally, this age group received the maximum number of CRS scores. On the other hand, the second-largest group that witnessed a 29 percent increase in 2022 from 19 percent in 2021 was between the ages of 30 and 34.
Education-wise ITAs issued in 2022
The number of invitations issued to applicants under Express Entry in 2022 increased per the candidate’s highest education level. However, the previous year, only 540 candidates with a high school diploma received ITAs, which is only 1 percent. 9 percent of all invitations were received by candidates who had acquired a post-secondary diploma of one or two years. Conversely, 40 percent of the total ITAs went to candidates with post-secondary education levels in a program of three years or above. Nearly 46 percent of ITAs in 2022 went to candidates with a master’s degree or an entry-level professional degree. Also, 4 percent of Ph.D. holders received ITAs the last year.
ITAs sent based on language abilities in 2022
Typically, an increased number of invitations were issued to those with solid language proficiency in the first official language. This was based on the Canadian Language Benchmark or NCLC score.
The following number of ITAs were sent to candidates with each CLB/NCLC level in 2022, with respect to the given score:
- CLB/NCLC 4 – 7 invitations issued
- CLB/NCLC 5 – 817 invitations issued
- CLB/NCLC 6 – 2,094 invitations issued
- CLB/NCLC 7 – 9,444 invitations issued
- CLB/NCLC 8 – 8,709 invitations issued
- CLB/NCLC 9 – 15,587 invitations issued
- CLB/NCLC 10 – 9,881 invitations issued
ITAs sent to candidates with Canadian work experience in 2022
The maximum number of recipients the previous year possessed one year of work experience in Canada per this report’s data. 41 percent who received ITAs had nearly one year of Canadian employment experience. This percentage implies 18,896 candidates. Next, around 35 percent of candidates who received ITAs had zero work experience in Canada. This percentage implies 16,066 ITAs issued. The next group was the one that received 4 percent of invitations, and this belonged to the Express Entry candidates who had at least two years of Canadian work experience. Around 7,246 invitations to apply were issued to this group of people, accounting for 16 percent.
Candidates showing the following years of work experience in Canada obtained four or fewer Express Entry invitations to apply in 2022:
- 4 percent of ITAs, nearly 1,957 for work experience of less than a year.
- 3 percent of ITAs, 1,528 for Canadian work experience of three years.
- Canadian work experience of four years – 1 percent of ITAs or 480 ITAs.
- 276 ITAs, less than one percent for those with 5 years of Canadian work experience.
ITAs based on the additional points acquired and extra points criteria in 2022
The report further provided details on ITAs issued to men and women who could fulfill the parameters to gain each additional point type. Canadian education led to 19,587 ITAs and arranged employment led to 8,756 ITAs. Moreover, these were the standard additional point types for men and women who fulfilled the criteria in 2022.
However, specifically in 2022, the most common additional point type of men was Canadian education and Arranged Employment. Conversely, for women in 2022, it was Canadian education and stronger French language skills.
Over the last three years, the percentage of Arranged Employment among both men and women remained stable. Furthermore, men were able to fulfill the criteria at a higher level, which is 65 percent more than women, who are at 35 percent.
Additionally, both men and women received 50 percent of ITAs in 2020 and 2021. Women fulfilled the French language requirement at a slightly higher level than men. This means women were at 53 percent than men, who were at 47 percent in 2022.
The technology industry was leading among the top three in-demand occupations for 2022 ITA holders
Express Entry candidates seeking an ITA for Canadian PR witnessed major changes in the most in-demand professions in 2022. In 2021, there was a major transition to CEC and PNP-specific invitation rounds. As a result, there was an increased number of candidates under the TEER 2 occupations. These were primarily occupations that needed two or more years of apprenticeship training. However, TEER 1 occupation candidates often require a university degree and get a massive amount of ITAs in 2022.
Occupations primarily associated with the technology field turned out to be the most common ones for 2022. Specifically, occupations including Software Engineers and Designers, Computer System Developers and Programmers, and Information Systems Specialists were the common professions. These groups of professions contributed to the maximum number of candidates invited to apply for PR in 2022 via Express Entry.
Additionally, Food Service Supervisors and Cooks emerged as primary occupations for those who received ITAs in 2022.
Express Entry annual report 2022 was made public by IRCC – Software Engineers and Designers got the maximum points under Arranged Employment in 2022
The most in-demand occupation among candidates who received ITAs with the maximum points under Arranged Employment witnessed a transition. In 2021, this in-demand occupation with maximum Arranged Employment points was Food Service Supervisors. However, in 2022, this was changed to Software Engineers and Designers.
The TEER categories among the top 15 professions underwent an equal allocation.
The majority of candidates with ITAs were residents from Nigeria, India, and Canada for the second consecutive year
The maximum number of candidates, 31,486, the previous year who received ITAs via Express Entry were Canadian residents. Over the past two years, the same trend has continued. This indicates that Canada remained the top resident country among those who got ITAs in 2020 and 2020. In 2020, ITA recipients from Canadian residents were 102,906. On the other hand, in 2022, the number was 68,061. Out of Express Entry foreign applicants who got ITAs, the majority of immigrants were from India (3,787) and Nigeria 1,730. Even one year ago, India and Nigeria acquired the top three positions.
The overall list of the top ten countries’ residences concerning the ITA recipients in 2022 is as follows:
1. Canada – 31,486 ITAs
2. India – 3,787 invitations
3. Nigeria – 1,730 ITAs
4. Cameroon – 1,063 ITAs
5. United States of America – 842 ITAs
6. Morocco – 793 invitations
7. United Arab Emirates – 683 ITAs
8. Lebanon -559 ITAs
9. Algeria – 550 ITAs
10. France – 381 invitations
The majority of ITA holders had citizenships in India, Algeria, and China
The data also demonstrates changes in the top citizenship countries of ITA holders. This implies that India has acquired the top position in each of the previous three years. In 2020 and 2021, China held the second ranking in the list. In 2020, 6,550 Nigerian citizens ranked third among ITA recipients. Next, in 2021, the third ranking was held by the Republic of Korea with 3,131 ITA recipients.
Refer to the list below to understand the top ten citizenship countries among ITA holders in 2022:
1. India – 20,769 ITAs
2. Algeria – 2,909 ITAs
3. People’s Republic of China – 2,456 ITAs
4. Cameroon – 1,218 ITAs
5. Iran – 1,210 ITAs
6. France – 1,069 ITAs
7. Morocco – 978 ITAs
8. United States of America – 939 ITAs
9. Philippines – 934 ITAs
10. Pakistan – 923 ITAs
Maximum number of ITA holders reside in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia
Canadian Permanent Residents have a long history of choosing to settle in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. However, for 2022, let’s see the desired Canadian provinces for Express Entry applicants.
In 2022, the majority of Express Entry applicants chose to settle in Ontario, and these account for 16,978 applicants. However, the percentage of people settling in this province has reduced from 61 percent in 2021 to 48 percent in 2022. British Columbia, with 6,966 applicants, and Alberta, with 4,372 applicants, turned out to be the two most prominent destinations. These two accounted for 20 percent and 12 percent of applicants, respectively.
Considering the recent years’ scenario, the least prominent destinations among Express Entry applicants were the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. These were 78 individuals in 2022.
The data doesn’t cover Quebec because this province operates separately from its immigration programs.
Express Entry annual report 2022 was made public by IRCC – the processing times for Express Entry applicants were at a slower pace than 2021
A majority of candidates witnessed an increase in the application processing times for the second year consecutively. The overall application processing time increased from 8 months in 2021 to 21 months in 2022. This implies the processing times for all programs. For FSTP applicants, the application processing time increased from 23 months in 2021 to 63 months in 2022. 80 percent of CEC applications underwent the processing of 19 months. This is an increase of 6 months from the time taken for processing in 2021. On the other hand, FSWP applicants underwent 29 months for application processing, which is an increase by 28 months in 2021. However, PNP applications took 13 months for application processing. In 2021, PNP applications took around 21 months to process.
Final thoughts on IRCC’s Express Entry annual report 2022
Express Entry, as an application system to handle immigration applications, emerged as a leading source of immigration at Canada’s federal level. This is with respect to its seventh operational year as an immigration pathway. Moreover, this pathway also turned out to be the most prominent among foreign nationals seeking Canadian PR. Over thousands of people have acquired skilled workers from foreign countries and offered them Permanent Residence.
The number of invitations issued to applicants in 2022 reduced massively by 59 percent compared to 2021. Despite this, IRCC continued to send invitations to applicants under the economic-class programs to boost Canada’s economy and social progress.
Talking of the future, the Express Entry system has prolonged a great deal. This is simply to emphasize those areas facing employment gaps and needs within Canada’s labor market.
IRCC achieved this target through the first category-based draw held on June 28, 2023. These category-based draws particularly target those with stronger French language proficiency. These could also be candidates with recent work experience in one of the five occupational categories:
- STEM professions;
- Healthcare;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- Trades and;
- Transport
These Express Entry category-based draws are still a prominent part of Canada’s progress. These draws are specifically meant to address the significant labor market crisis.
As of now, IRCC has already issued 11,900 invitations to target-based category candidates in 2023. Recently,
Overall, the Canadian government will continue to find ways to ensure an efficient application management system for applicants. This way, Canada will keep welcoming skilled immigrants and benefit from their global community of skilled workers. Also, it will provide these people with Canada as a world-reputed destination for immigrants.
