On July 2nd, 2023, the Immigration Minister announced the launch of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. The first round of category-based draws for STEM professions will take place this week. Preference will be given to candidates with strong French language proficiency or work experience in healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture, and agri-food sectors. These categories were chosen based on labor market shortages and projections.
On July 2nd, 2023, the Immigration Minister announced the launch of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. The first round of category-based draws for STEM professions will take place this week. Preference will be given to candidates with strong French language proficiency or work experience in healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture, and agri-food sectors. These categories were chosen based on labor market shortages and projections.
STEM occupations were chosen because there is a skills gap in Canada’s STEM workforce due to retirements and evolving technology. The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services category had 56,915 job vacancies at the end of 2022 Q4. The Federal Budget for 2023 includes a $20 billion investment in clean electricity and growth infrastructure projects, leading to increased demand for tech workers. Canada’s AI sector is also growing rapidly.
STEM Occupations Eligibility
STEM occupations offer competitive salaries compared to other sectors, with an average compensation of $90,252 in 2021. To be eligible for the STEM occupations category, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria of one of the Express Entry programs and have at least 6 months of continuous work experience in one of the listed occupations within the past 3 years.
For category-based rounds of invitations, IRCC will send invitations to eligible candidates based on their work experience in specific job categories, language ability in English or French, and education. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores will still be important for category-based draws. Candidates with top-ranking scores who are eligible for the category-based draw will receive invitations to apply for permanent residence.