IRCC Holds First-Ever Category-Based Express Entry Draw

Surya Rathee
[Published 29 Jun, 2023 | 04:21 AM]
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Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has finally introduced category-based Express Entry draws. This was Canada’s first-ever category-based draw since the six new categories were announced on May 31.

The latest Express Entry draw held on June 28, 2023, saw invitations being issued to a total of 500 Healthcare workers under the new category-based selection draw. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476 to be eligible.

A second round, inviting 1,500 workers to apply, is scheduled to take place on July 5. Another draw for eligible candidates from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professions is also expected to be conducted in the same week.

Express Entry Draw #252

Who Was Invited?

• Number of invitations issued: 500
• Rank required to be invited to apply: 500 or above
• Type of draw: Healthcare Occupations (2023-1)
• Date and time of round: June 28, 2023, 14:04:34 UTC
• CRS score of lowest-ranking candidates invited: 476
• Tie-breaking rule: November 12, 2022, 12:47:27 UTC

If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

Check eligibility to apply for Express Entry.

Healthcare Occupations For Category-Based Draws

On May 31, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it had finalized a new category-based selection for Express Entry. Among the six new categories, healthcare occupations make up the largest number of eligible occupations, with 35 in total:

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
Chiropractors
Dentists
Dieticians and nutritionists
Education counselors
General practitioners and family physicians
Instructors of persons with disabilities
Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
Licensed practical nurses
Massage therapists
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
Medical laboratory technologists
Medical radiation technologists
Medical sonographers
Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
Nurse practitioners
Nursing coordinators and supervisors
Occupational therapists
Optometrists
Other assisting occupations in support of health services
Other practitioners of natural healing
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
Paramedical occupations
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
Physiotherapists
Psychologists
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
Specialists in surgery
Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
Veterinarians
Healthcare Worker Shortage In Canada

Canada’s Healthcare sector is experiencing a drastic shortage of skilled workers. This is in part because Canada has one of the lowest birth rates globally and an aging population. An older population will create more demand for the healthcare system. And now more than ever, Canada needs immigrants to make up for the shortfall of younger Canadians and fill critical positions mentioned on the Canada In-demand Occupation List.

According to recent data, there were 144,500 vacant positions within the healthcare and social assistance sector as of March 2023 - or 17.7% of all unfilled positions. 

Several provinces in Canada have already conducted targeted draws for Healthcare professionals in 2023. For instance, Alberta recently launched a specific Healthcare pathway, under its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. British Columbia and Ontario were also among the provinces that recently invited foreign workers in a Healthcare occupation.

The introduction of new categories aims to address the vacancies mentioned on the Canada Occupation In-demand List. Immigration is considered crucial for supporting the labor shortage and sustaining the growth of the French language in French minority communities outside Quebec.

Source: canada.ca