Healthcare and STEM occupations are prominent in recent draws. These draws are the Express Entry category-based draws. The new selection categories came into existence on May 31.
The first-ever Express Entry category-based selection draw occurred for the healthcare sector recently. IRCC further claimed it would issue invitations to more healthcare workers in the upcoming weeks.
Additionally, it will conduct the first invitation round for STEM workers under the category-based selection draws next week.
The categories mostly rely on a candidate’s work experience or occupation concerning a particularly in-demand field.
Healthcare and STEM occupations are prominent in recent draws
According to IRCC, these new categories were selected based on the Canadian labor market details. This information included projections and feedback from stakeholders across Canada.
The department analyzed this information to determine the six new categories for candidates under the Express Entry in the forthcoming draws in 2023.
Moreover, these six new categories intend to assist the Canadian economic objectives and promote Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
These new categories include the following:
- French-language abilities;
- Occupations related to Transport;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- Healthcare Occupations;
- STEM professions including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and
- Trade-related occupations
The above categories play a prominent role in defining and strengthening the Canadian economy and labor force. These are specifically the in-demand occupations. However, the two categories stand apart due to their number of eligible occupations.
Healthcare occupations are most prominently in demand
The Canadian population seems to be aging, while the birthrate is at its lowest across the globe. Approximately 9 million people will reach 65 years of age by 2030. Furthermore, it indicates that the healthcare system will undergo an increased demand, and due to the rising retirements, only a few people will exist to meet the labor shortage gap.
Therefore, selecting more healthcare workers with proven industry experience will be a smart move. This way, there will be less pressure on the entire healthcare system in Canada.
Statistics Canada’s latest data on job vacancy displays around 144,500 vacant jobs in the healthcare and social assistance sector. As of March 2023, 17.7 percent of vacant job positions exist within this sector.
Almost 50 percent of occupations under the category-based draws belong to the healthcare category. These also include a variety of professions.
- Dentists
- Instructors of persons with disabilities
- Chiropractors
- Dieticians and nutritionists
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Education counselors
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- Other professional occupations in assessment and therapy and Kinesiologists
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- Licensed practical nurses
- Massage therapists
- Medical sonographers
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- Medical laboratory technologists
- Medical radiation technologists
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- Nurse practitioners
- Optometrists
- Occupational therapists
- Other assisting occupations – support of health services
- Paramedical occupations
- Other practitioners of natural healing
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Other professional occupations – health diagnosing and treating
- Psychologists
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
- Physiotherapists
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Specialists in surgery
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Veterinarians
- Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
STEM Occupations
In Canada, demand is rising for jobs in the STEM fields. This is related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Per the Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada research, the information, communications, and technology sector will generate $242 billion in revenue in 2021.
Invest in Canada says Canada ranks fourth for its global competitiveness in AI implementation, innovation, and investment. Canada is also a hotspot for AI (artificial intelligence). It is home to 1,032 AI and machine learning businesses.
According to Statistics Canada’s report in November last year, the high rate of retirement as well as quickly advancing technology and automation employed in daily life and business, are causing a skills gap in the Canadian workforce. It claims that this is leading some Canadian firms to select less competent employees, which could impede the expansion of their companies.
Numerous professions that fall under the STEM category have competitive starting salaries. According to a Statistics Canada report published in April of this year, the typical starting salary for international students with an undergraduate degree working in a STEM field was $52,000 as of 2019.
The list of STEM jobs qualifying for category-based selection draws includes 23 positions.
- Civil Engineers
- Architecture and science managers
- Architects
- Computer and information systems managers
- Business systems specialists
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- Cybersecurity specialists
- Computer systems developers and programmers
- Engineering managers
- Data scientists
- Database analysts and data administrators
- Information systems specialists
- Electrical and electronics engineers
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers
- Landscape Architects
- Land surveyors
- Natural and applied science policy researchers, program officers, and consultants
- Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries
- Metallurgical and materials engineers
- Software developers and programmers
- Urban and land use planners
- Software engineers and designers
- Web developers and programmers
- Web designers
Healthcare and STEM occupations are prominent in recent draws – what is the eligibility for these new categories?
Candidates must still confirm that they are eligible for an Express Entry program even if they have the minimum amount of work experience necessary for one of these categories, which is at least six months of continuous work experience in an acceptable occupation (within the last three years), whether in Canada or overseas. Being eligible requires more than just having the appropriate work experience.
The Canadian Experience Class, the FSWP, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program fall under the application management system of Express Entry. Applicants must meet each program’s specific work experience, educational, and language requirements for entry into the Express Entry application pool.
The new selection category-based draws will rank candidates under the Comprehensive Ranking System. Those with the maximum scores will more likely receive an ITA for Canadian Permanent Residence.
