How Many ITAs Has Canada Issued Through Express Entry This Year vs. Last Year?

How Many ITAs Has Canada Issued Through Express Entry This Year vs. Last Year?
Canada’s Express Entry system, a key pillar of its immigration strategy, has seen significant changes in the past two years, particularly with the introduction of category-based selection draws. These adjustments are part of Canada’s efforts to address its evolving economic and demographic needs. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched this policy in 2023, allowing for more targeted invitations based on factors such as occupation, language proficiency, and other attributes, rather than solely focusing on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
This article compares how many Invitations to Apply (ITAs) Canada has issued through Express Entry so far in 2024 versus 2023. It also looks into the categories IRCC has emphasized and how the policy shift has impacted the selection process.
Understanding Category-Based Selection
Before diving into the numbers, it is essential to understand what category-based selection is. Traditionally, Express Entry candidates are ranked based on a CRS score, calculated from factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. However, category-based draws focus more on specific attributes that align with Canada’s labor market needs.
As of 2024, IRCC is selecting candidates based on the following categories:
• Healthcare occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• French language proficiency
These categories allow the Canadian government to prioritize candidates with specific skills or qualifications that can address immediate gaps in the workforce.
Express Entry ITAs: 2024 vs. 2023
As of the latest draw on September 19, 2024, IRCC has issued 84,874 ITAs through the Express Entry system. By the same date in 2023, the department had issued 81,948 ITAs. While this represents a modest increase, it is essential to look at other factors to understand the full context.
In terms of landed immigrants through Express Entry, IRCC’s targets have also increased. In 2023, the goal was to welcome 82,800 immigrants through the Federal High Skilled allocation in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. This number has increased to 110,770 in 2024. This rise reflects the Canadian government’s desire to bring more skilled workers to address labor shortages in key industries.
Number of Draws Held in 2024 Compared to 2023
One major change in the Express Entry system this year is the number of draws IRCC has held. So far, in 2024, the department has conducted 37 draws. In comparison, by September 20, 2023, IRCC had held 28 draws. The 2024 draws cover nine categories and streams, while 2023’s draws covered eight.
The average size of draws this year is around 2,294 ITAs per draw, compared to an average of 2,927 ITAs in 2023. However, the variance in draw sizes depends heavily on the category or stream being targeted.
A key factor in the higher number of draws in 2024 was a historic July, where IRCC conducted nine separate draws—the most in a single month since Express Entry’s inception in 2015. This trend suggests that IRCC is conducting smaller but more frequent draws, likely in line with the new category-based selection process.
Streams and Categories With the Most Draws in 2024 vs. 2023
Several streams and categories have seen an increase in the number of draws this year. Below is a table that compares the number of draws and ITAs for various streams in 2024 versus the same period in 2023.
Category/Stream Number of Draws (2024) ITAs Issued (2024) Number of Draws (2023) ITAs Issued (2023)
Agriculture and agri-food occupations 0 0 1 150
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 6 24,800 0 0
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 0 0 1 3,300
French language proficiency category 8 20,400 3 6,900
Healthcare occupations category 2 7,250 2 2,000
General (includes CEC, FSWP, FSTP) 9 14,445 0 0
No Program Specified 0 0 15 63,900
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 8 10,554 4 2,848
STEM occupations category 1 4,500 1 500
Trade occupations category 1 1,800 1 1,500
Transport occupations category 1 975 1 1,000
Notable Trends in 2024
1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Draws
There has been a sharp increase in both CEC and PNP draws in 2024. The CEC, which saw no draws by September 2023, has already had six draws this year, issuing 24,800 ITAs. Similarly, PNP draws have increased from four in 2023 to eight in 2024, reflecting the government’s focus on prioritizing candidates already living in Canada.
2. French Language Proficiency
The number of draws targeting candidates with French language proficiency has more than doubled in 2024. IRCC has already conducted eight such draws, compared to just three by the same time last year. This increase aligns with Canada’s goal of welcoming more French-speaking immigrants, especially outside of Quebec. By 2026, IRCC aims for 8% of immigrants outside Quebec to be French-speaking, up from 6% in 2023.
3. General and No Program-Specified Draws
In 2023, there were 15 general draws that did not specify a program, and these accounted for the majority of ITAs. This year, IRCC has shifted its focus to more targeted draws, including CEC and PNP. No draws were labeled as “no program specified” by September 2024.
CRS Cut-Off Scores in 2024 vs. 2023
The CRS cut-off scores have also fluctuated between 2023 and 2024 across different categories. Here is a comparison of the highest and lowest CRS cut-off scores for categories selected multiple times in both years:
Category/Stream Highest CRS (2024) Lowest CRS (2024) Highest CRS (2023) Lowest CRS (2023)
French language proficiency 446 336 439 375
Healthcare occupations category 445 422 476 463
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 739 663 791 691
These figures demonstrate that cut-off scores have generally decreased for targeted streams, making it more accessible for candidates with specific qualifications to receive ITAs.
Conclusion
The changes introduced in 2023 and implemented throughout 2024 have significantly impacted the Express Entry system. The shift toward category-based selection has allowed Canada to invite candidates with skills and qualifications that align with its labor market needs, particularly in healthcare, STEM, and French language proficiency. With more targeted draws and an increase in ITAs for specific categories, Canada’s Express Entry system continues to evolve in response to its economic and demographic challenges.
As the year progresses, we can expect IRCC to continue refining the system to ensure that it meets the country’s long-term immigration and workforce goals.