The Express Entry third weekly invitation rounds were held for candidates consecutively. The candidates who received these ITAs belonged to the category-based healthcare sectors. The minimum CRS score requirement turned out to be 463. This is by far the lowest score of 2023 for the Express Entry invitation rounds.
Last week itself, IRCC declared the healthcare draw that was about to occur for 1,500 healthcare workers this week. On June 28, the first Express Entry category-based draw took place for healthcare workers. In this draw, 500 healthcare workers obtained invitations. The least CRS score of 476 was required.
On July 5, STEM candidates received 500 ITAs, with the CRS score requirement of 486.
IRCC also issued 700 ITAs to candidates in an all-program draw, while the CRS score remained at 511. This draw occurred on July 4, and it happened to be a sudden draw. The all-program draw under Express Entry invites candidates from the three programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the FSTP, and CEC.
Express Entry third weekly invitation rounds – healthcare occupations
Healthcare occupations comprise at least thirty-five largest number of eligible occupations among the six new categories. They’re as follows:
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- Chiropractors
- Education counselors
- Dentists
- Dieticians and nutritionists
- Instructors of persons with disabilities
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Massage therapists
- Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- Licensed practical nurses
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- Medical laboratory technologists
- Occupational therapists
- Medical radiation technologists
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- Medical sonographers
- Nurse practitioners
- Optometrists
- Other assisting occupations supporting health services
- Other practitioners of natural healing
- Paramedical occupations
- Other professional occupations related to health diagnosing and treating
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- Specialists in surgery
- Psychologists
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- Veterinarians
Immigrants represent 23% of registered nurses, 36% of licensed physicians, and 54% of dental technologists in Canada. Canada depends on immigration to close critical labor market gaps. According to Statistics Canada’s most recent data on job openings, the healthcare and social support sectors had 153,000 open positions in April 2023. The number of openings is at its highest level across all industries.
Category-based selection draws
On May 31, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Sean Fraser, declared that the new categories for the new category-based Express Entry draws had been completed.
Following a revision to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022, the announcement was anticipated. The modification gives Canada’s minister of immigration the power to choose potential immigrants for economic reasons who possess crucial qualities that complement Canada’s economic aims or the minister’s duty to advance the French language outside of Quebec.
Here are the new categories:
- STEM professions
- Healthcare
- Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Solidified French-language abilities
- Trades – Carpenters, Plumbers, and Contractors
The labor market projections and detailed analysis by IRCC partners, stakeholders, and the provincial and territorial governments determined the newly selected categories.
