Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada recently published its Express Entry year-end report for 2019 noting that the EE pool has become more competitive compared to the the previous year.
IRCC cited the increase in the median Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut off score, the number of candidates in the EE pool and the number of candidates selected through the Provincial Nomination Program as reasons for the heightened competition.
The CRS cut-off score in 2019 ranged from 438-475 with the median CRS at 461 compared to the 439-456 range in 2018 which median CRS was at 442.
According to the report, IRCC did not meet its service standard of processing 80% of EE applications within 6 months, reporting that overall processing time was at 8 months. It took steps to address this in the latter part of 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about challenges throughout the Spring of 2020 and IRCC continues to monitor and explore ways to maximize the EE system amid the changing circumstances.
How Express Entry works
The Express Entry System is a points-based application management system for the following economic immigrations programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.
Permanent Resident applicants have to meet the eligibility criteria of at least one of the above-mentioned programs before they are placed in the EE pool. Applicants are then ranked against each other according to their CRS scores based on factors such as age, language profiency, educational attainment, work experience, Canadian work experience, among others.
IRCC invites candidates from the pool to apply for PR about every two weeks. It publishes Ministerial Instructions (MI) showing how many Invitations to Apply (ITA) were sent to applicants on a certain date, and for which economic program. It held a total of 26 rounds of ITAs in 2019. The MI also shows the cut-off score, or the lowest ranking score of the applicant given an ITA.
85,300 EE candidates got ITAs
The EE year-end report showed that 72% of the 332,331 Express Entry profiles submitted in 2019 were eligible for at least one of the economic programs – FSWP, FSTP or CEC, and invited 85,300 applicants in the pool to apply for PR.
A total of 38,809 invitations (45%) were issued under the FSWP; 30,563 (36%) under the CEC; and 14,928 (18%) under the Provincial Nomination Program. IRCC held two ITA rounds for the FSTP on May 15, 2019 and Oct. 16, 2019 and issued 500 ITAs each round.
Candidate profiles given ITAs
The report noted that in the last 3 years Canada has favored candidates who share these socio-demoograhic profiles:
> Are between 20-29 years of age
> Has post-secondary credential of 3 years or longer; a Master’s Degree or enrty-to-practice professional degree
> Have 1 year or more Canadian work experience
> Five years or more foreign work experience (35-40%); less than 1 year foreign work experience (21-26%)
Common occupations of candidates given ITAs
| OCCUPATION | SKILL LEVEL | 2019 |
| 2173 Software engineers & designers | A | 6,529 |
| 2171 Information Systems Analysts & Consultants | A | 4,645 |
| 2174 Computer Programmers & Interactive Media Developers | A | 3,819 |
| 1111 Financial auditors and accountants | A | 2,607 |
| 1241 Administrative Assistants | B | 2,407 |
| 1122 Professional occupations in business management consulting | A | 1,838 |
| 1123 Professional occupations in adverting, marketing and public relations | A | |
| 1221 Administrative Officers | B | 1,694 |
| 4011 University professor and lecturers | A | 1,684 |
| 0124 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers | 0 | 1,588 |
| 1112 Financial and Investment Analysts | A | 1,549 |
| 6311 Food Service Supervisors | B | 1,544 |
| 1311 Accounting Technicians ad Bookkeepers | B | 1,484 |
| 2132 Mechanical Engineers | A | 1,416 |
| 2172 Database Analysts and Data Administrators | A | 1,312 |
| Other | 49,376 | |
| TOTAL | 85,300 |
Common countries of residence of candidates given ITAs
| COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE | NUMBER OF ITAS |
| 1. Canada | 40,550 |
| 2. India | 14,926 |
| 3. United States | 10,185 |
| 4. Nigeria | 3,819 |
| 5. United Arab Emirates | 1,708 |
| 6. Pakistan | 1,180 |
| 7. Morocco | 860 |
| 8. Australia | 791 |
| 9. China | 768 |
| 10. United Kingdom | 699 |
| 11. Other | 9,814 |
| TOTAL | 85,300 |
Read the complete year-end report here.
To find out if you are eligible to come to Canada under one of the economic immigration programs being managed through EE fill out our assessment form or book an appointment with us.
