STEM Jobs for Express Entry Category-Based Draws in 2023

Surya Rathee
[Published 09 Aug, 2023 | 12:52 PM]
About Author - 5 min read
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On May 31, Canada's Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser, announced the launch of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. With the introduction of category-based draws, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to strategically address labor shortages across various key sectors in Canada.

Canada Express Entry draws in 2023 will now be focused on candidates who have a strong French language proficiency or work experience in the following fields:

• Healthcare occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations

The categories for Express Entry draws were chosen after considering labor market projections and consulting with various Partners, Stakeholders, Provincial, and Territorial governments. By involving a wide range of perspectives - IRCC hopes that the upcoming Express Entry draws align with the country's economic needs and priorities.

Check eligibility to apply under Express Entry

Why Were STEM Occupations Chosen?

Statistics Canada released a report at the end of 2022 stating that there is a gap in skills needed in Canada’s STEM labor force. This gap is due to the high rate of retirement and the evolving technology and automation of businesses and day-to-day life.

STEM occupations emerged as pillars of Canada's evolving economy. At the end of 2022 Q4, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services category had 56,915 job vacancies in Canada. Provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia had the greatest demand for professionals in these fields - showcasing their progressive and innovation-driven industries.

Jobs For STEM Occupations Category: Complete List

Eligibility For STEM Occupations Category

To be eligible to apply under the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Occupations Category, you must:

• Meet the eligibility criteria of one of the Express Entry streams: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.
• Have at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the past 3 years in Canada or abroad, in a profession targeted for the STEM Occupations Category.
• Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.

IRCC has so far conducted seven invitation rounds under these newly-launched selection categories for Express Entry. You can check the complete list here: Express Entry Latest Draws In 2023.

How Does IRCC Choose and Report On Categories?

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) choose categories based on:

• Labor market information and projections.
• Input received from partners, including provinces and territories, and stakeholders across the country.

Each year, they report to Parliament on:

• The categories chosen the previous year.
• Why and how they chose them.
• The instructions to establish a category.
• The number of invitations issued for each category.

They also:

• Include information about category-based selection in the Express Entry Year-End Report.
• Monitor and assess categories on a regular basis.

Since June 2022, the Government of Canada has been planning category-based selection draws. This change was made to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow the selection of immigrants based on specific attributes that align with Canada's economic priorities.

“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labor shortages. These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labor shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities. Put simply, Canada’s immigration system has never been more responsive to the country’s social or economic needs.” said Fraser.

The introduction of new categories aims to address the vacancies mentioned on the Canada Occupation In-demand List. Immigration in 2023 and beyond will continue to support the labor shortage in Canada and sustain the growth of the French language in French minority communities outside Quebec.

Read More:- Who is eligible for category-based Express Entry selection draws?

categories on a regular basis.