According to recent information obtained through an Access to Information Request (ATIP), the majority of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the Express Entry draws of 2024 will be directed towards candidates with French language proficiency. Skynet Immigration, having received this data from other source, reports that 78.5% of all ITAs will be issued through category-based selection draws by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The rest, 21.5%, will be distributed in general draws.
The breakdown of ITAs by category for these targeted draws shows that candidates proficient in French will receive 30%, those in STEM fields will see 25%, and healthcare professionals will get 15%. Other categories like trade and transport occupations will receive smaller percentages, 5% and 3% respectively, while agriculture and agri-food occupations will account for just 0.5%.
Introduced in May 2023, category-based selection draws aim to address specific labor market needs by focusing on candidates with crucial work experience and language skills. The prominence of French proficiency in these draws stems from ongoing labor shortages in bilingual positions, highlighted in a 2021 report by the Labour Market Information Council. This was corroborated by a Statistics Canada study in January, emphasizing the significant role of language skills in the success of economic immigrants in Canada’s workforce.
IRCC’s focus on French proficiency also aligns with the public’s right to access services in both official languages. Since the implementation of these category-based selections, the French proficiency category has issued the most ITAs, totaling 17,300 since July 2023. This initiative supports IRCC’s goal to increase the percentage of francophone newcomers settling outside of Quebec, with the target for 2024 set at 6%, up from 4.7% achieved in 2023.
Opinions on this strategy vary. While 54% of stakeholders endorse the French proficiency category, 42% either see no potential impact or remain uncertain. Stakeholders in provinces like Alberta and British Columbia are particularly skeptical about the economic impact outside Francophone minority communities. However, supporters argue that bilingualism is essential in sectors like healthcare, tourism, hospitality, and education, and that it helps eliminate barriers for French-speaking minorities.
As for the scheduling of the draws, IRCC has planned for a more predictable and regular schedule for the 2024 Express Entry draws, although many details remain undisclosed. The structure introduced this year involves holding one general draw and at least one category-based draw every two weeks, with occasional increases to three draws per week. The aim is to provide consistency for provinces, territories, and applicants alike.
The size of each draw will correlate with the admissions targets established in the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan. For 2024, the goal is to welcome 110,770 new permanent residents, and this figure is set to rise to 117,500 in 2025. It’s important to note that the number of candidates invited annually won’t directly match these targets due to the six-month processing standard for Express Entry applications. Thus, those invited in the latter half of the year are likely to land in Canada in 2025.
The impact of these draws on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores is also significant. The 2024 ATIP revealed expectations of a 10% drop in average CRS scores due to the category-based selection approach, which could enhance diversity in source countries and occupations. However, this might also affect the economic outcomes for newcomers, as higher CRS scores typically correlate with better economic performance.
Recent months have seen higher minimum CRS scores required for general draws, none dropping below 524. Contrastingly, category-based draws targeting French proficiency have set much lower requirements, such as a draw in February where a score of 336 was sufficient.
This strategic approach by IRCC aims to not only meet labor market demands and uphold bilingual service standards but also to foster greater diversity and integration of immigrants throughout Canada. The continued refinement of the Express Entry system reflects Canada’s adaptive strategies to global migration trends and its commitment to building a robust and diverse workforce.
