The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended invitations to Express Entry candidates for the third consecutive day.

Today's invitations were specifically targeted at candidates eligible for category-based selection in healthcare occupations. A total of 1,500 candidates have been invited to apply. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for eligibility in this round was set at 463, which is the lowest CRS score for any Express Entry invitation round issued in 2023.

This is an ongoing news story, and CIC News will provide continuous updates as the IRCC releases additional results for the Express Entry program.

As anticipated, the latest draw focused on the healthcare category, as IRCC had previously confirmed plans to invite 1,500 healthcare workers this week. This follows the historic category-based draw that took place on June 28, where 500 healthcare workers with a minimum CRS score of 476 were issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs).

The current draws follow the recent invitations extended to candidates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) on July 5. In the previous round, 500 STEM candidates with a minimum CRS score of 486 received ITAs.

Additionally, the IRCC surprised applicants by inviting 700 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 511 in an all-program draw on July 4. In an all-program draw, Express Entry considers candidates from various immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Healthcare occupations for category-based selection

Healthcare occupations have emerged as the most substantial category within the six newly introduced categories for category-based selection. A total of 35 occupations fall under the healthcare category, encompassing a wide range of roles:

• 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 professionals 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

Canada relies on immigration to address urgent gaps in the labor force, and healthcare is no exception. Immigrants account for 23% of registered nurses, 36% of registered physicians, and 54% of dental technologists in the country. The most recent data from Statistics Canada indicates a high level of job vacancies in the healthcare and social assistance sector, with 153,000 vacant positions reported in April 2023. This figure represents the highest number of vacancies across all employment sectors, underscoring the pressing need for skilled professionals in the healthcare field.

Category-based selection draws

On May 31, Sean Fraser, the Minister of Immigration in Canada, made a highly anticipated announcement regarding the finalization of new categories for the category-based selection Express Entry draws.

This announcement followed a change to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022. The amendment granted the immigration minister the authority to select economic immigration candidates based on specific attributes that align with Canada's economic priorities or the minister's mandate to promote the French language outside of Quebec.

The newly established categories for the Express Entry draws are as follows:

1. Healthcare
2. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
3. Trades, including occupations like carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
4. Transport
5. Agriculture and agri-food
6. Strong French-language proficiency

The selection of these categories was guided by careful consideration of labor market projections, as well as extensive discussions with partners and stakeholders of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), including provincial and territorial governments. This collaborative approach aimed to identify areas of priority and ensure alignment with Canada's evolving economic needs.