The recent transition to NOC 2021 from NOC 2016 and the approval of Bill C-19 set the stage for enhancing the Express Entry system in 2023.
Canada’s Express Entry system manages applications of candidates willing to come to Canada through economic immigration pathways.
Candidates eligible for Express Entry upload their profile in the system, which assigns them a Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS). The scores rank candidates as the Express Entry draw selects the highest-ranking applicants to receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
Express Entry draws in 2022
The Express Entry draws resumed in July 2022 after an eighteen-month break because of the pandemic. The draws issued 46,538 Invitations to Apply. The minimum CRS scores declined from 557 in the July draw to 491 in the November draw, showing a drop of 66 points.
The focus of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) was to address the immigration backlogs in 2022. The department is working towards increasing immigration targets in 2023 and beyond.
Shift to NOC 2021
The NOC 2016 referred to skill types such as 0, A, or B while determining eligibility for work experience. The new NOC 2021 considers the factors of Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER). It provides better insights into the candidate’s experience and education. The shift from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 added 16 new occupations to the Express Entry system.
Canada will enhance Express Entry in 2023 as the recent Bill C-19 authorizes the Immigration Ministry to choose candidates to support the economic and labor market needs. The selection will focus more on the candidate’s education, employment experience, and language proficiency. Each Express Entry draw will focus on specific immigration goals.
