Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently discharged its 2022 Annual Report on Express Entry, giving valuable insights into the application management system utilized to attract skilled foreign workers looking for permanent residence. Since its 2015 dispatch, the Express Entry system has comprised three core programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
A review of year-on-year data from January to December 2022 reveals that the number of Express Entry profiles submitted in 2022—a total of 428,391—marks a 3% decrease from 2021 but a significant 19% increase from 2020.
While a greater number of profile submissions came from men (238,382) than women (189,881), both genders accounted for identical proportions as in 2021 (56% male and 44% female). An analysis of profile submissions revealed an unchanging eligibility rate among men from 2020 to 2022 (71%), while women experienced a slight increase in eligible profiles during this time frame (78%).
In terms of ranking candidates within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), most people submitting Express Entry profiles fell into scores between 301 and 500. This score is influenced by factors like age, language ability, education, work experience, and additional CRS points for education in Canada, French language proficiency, or having siblings in Canada.
Despite overall reductions in profile submissions since 2020 (63%) and 2021 (58%), an increasing percentage of eligible candidates garnered at least one type of additional point in 2022. The majority (55%) of applicants in 2022 did not meet the criteria for additional points. The most common pathways to supplemental points included having higher education in Canada (23%) and possessing siblings in the country (14%).
A Closer Look at the Invitation Trends in 2022
The Express Entry system remains a popular pathway to permanent residence in Canada. In 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held 24 Express Entry draws, issuing a total of 46,539 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. This article delves into the invitation trends based on various factors such as draw type, gender, age, education level, and language proficiency.
Draw Type and ITAs Issued in 2022
During 2022, IRCC issued 46,539 ITAs – a significant decrease compared to the 114,431 issued in the previous year. This was mainly due to the temporary pause on ITAs for federal high-skilled programs managed under Express Entry from September 2021 until July 2022. Consequently, most invitations were issued under two specific programs: Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), with 19,258 ITAs and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), with 18,895 ITAs. Only a small fraction of ITAs were sent to Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates (8,386), while no invitations were made under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Gender Distribution of ITAs in 2022
Men received the majority of Express Entry invitations in 2022, accounting for 58% compared to women who received only 42%. This gender distribution corresponds with the proportion of profiles submitted by men and women within each program category. Men received more ITA invitations under both CEC and PNP programs than women.
Age Distribution of ITAs in 2022
Candidates aged between 20 and 29 years old made up the largest recipients’ age group for invitations at an impressive rate of 50% while those aged between 30-34 years old followed closely behind at 29%. This is not surprising as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) awards the highest points to candidates within this age range.
Education Level Distribution of ITAs in 2022
In 2022, education level played a significant role in determining ITA issuance. Candidates with a master’s or entry-to-practice professional degree received 46% of all invitations. Those with a post-secondary credential from a program three years or longer took up 40%, while only 9% went to applicants with one or two-year post-secondary credentials. A mere 1% of invitations were issued to individuals with a high school diploma or lower, while a small percentage (4%) was awarded to PhD holders.
Language Proficiency Distribution of ITAs in 2022
In 2022, candidates from various language proficiency levels were invited to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry program. The majority of Invitation to Apply (ITA) recipients had stronger first official language proficiency based on their Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) scores.
Here’s a breakdown of the number of ITAs issued by CLB/NCLC level in 2022:
Canadian Work Experience and ITAs:
Notably, the dominant proportion of ITA recipients in 2022 had one year of Canadian work experience. A staggering 41% (18,986) of all ITA recipients had a single year of employment experience in Canada. Surprisingly, the second-largest percentage (35%, 16,066 ITAs) comprised individuals with no Canadian experience at all. Those with two years of local employment accounted for 16% (7,246 ITAs), marking the only other group to receive over 4% of the total issued ITAs.
In contrast, ITA recipients with less than one year or between three to five years of work experience made up only small fractions, ranging from less than 1% to 4%.
International Work Experience Trends:
Comparable patterns emerged when considering international or foreign work experiences among ITA recipients. Although applicants with five or more years of international experience received 35% of ITAs issued in 2022 (16,251), those with one year or less were close competitors at 27% (12,569 ITAs).
Remaining foreign work experiences were distributed as follows:
- One year: 8% (3,796 ITAs)
- Two years: 7% (3,267 ITAs)
- Three years: 13% (6,035)
- Four years: 10% (4,621)
Additional Points Assignments and Criteria Met:
The report also revealed that Education in Canada and Arranged Employment were the most common additional points types granted to both men and women in 2022. Interestingly, women earned a slightly higher proportion of French-language proficiency points compared to men, at 53% versus 47%.
Shifts in Primary Occupations and Countries of Residence among 2022 ITA Recipients
Dominance of Technology-Related Occupations
In 2022, there was a noticeable shift in the primary occupations among Express Entry candidates invited to apply for permanent residency. While the previous year saw a higher number of candidates with Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) 2 occupations, there was a significant surge of TEER 1 occupations in 2022. The technology industry emerged as the most dominant field, with occupations such as software engineers and designers, information systems specialists, and computer systems developers and programmers claiming the top spots. Apart from these technology-related professions, food service supervisors and cooks also ranked as the leading occupations for candidates invited to apply this year.
Interestingly, software engineers and designers surpassed food service supervisors in obtaining the most Arranged Employment points for Express Entry in 2022 – a position held by food service supervisors in both 2020 and 2021. This illustrates the growing demand for technological expertise within the Canadian job market.
Top Countries of Residence for ITA Recipients
For the second consecutive year, Canada remained as the top country of residence among Express Entry ITA recipients in 2022. There were 31,486 residents of Canada who received an ITA this year, a trend that has been consistent since 2020. Among foreign applicants who obtained an ITA through Express Entry system, India (3,787) and Nigeria (1,730) were the next leading countries of residence.
The top ten countries of residence for 2022 ITA recipients include:
- Canada (31,486)
- India (3,787)
- Nigeria (1,730)
- Cameroon (1,063)
- United States of America (842)
- Morocco (793)
- United Arab Emirates (683)
- Lebanon (559)
- Algeria (550)
- France (381)
This diverse representation of countries of residence highlights the attractiveness of Canadian permanent residency to people around the globe and the growing role of immigration in shaping Canada’s population and workforce.
Conclusion
The Express Entry application management system has consistently proven to be a dependable mechanism for Canada’s federal government to manage immigration while remaining an attractive pathway for skilled foreign nationals seeking opportunities in Canada. During its seventh year, the system continued to facilitate permanent residence for a significant number of individuals across its three distinct programs.
Despite the reduction in ITAs by 59% in 2022 compared to the previous year, IRCC persisted in inviting qualified economic immigrants to contribute to Canada’s growth and enhance its societal fabric. It is evident that these newcomers will likely integrate seamlessly into Canadian society, proving advantageous for the nation’s advancement in both economic and social aspects.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, exclusively written and published by IntraSource. The information sourced from various trusted platforms, mainly Government of Canada and “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)” websites, and should not be considered as legal or professional advice. IRCC’s requirements may change, so consult lawyer/s and receive a professional advice before making decisions or applications.
