Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is contemplating adjustments to the categories employed for category-based draws in 2025, as indicated by a recent survey distributed by IRCC.
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Key points:
IRCC is contemplating including education as a new category for draws to address long-term labour shortages.
The French-language category is expected to continue into 2025.
IRCC is considering introducing categories for critical industries facing emerging labour shortages, including natural resources (for critical minerals used in electric vehicle battery production), new technologies (clean/green technology, quantum), and applied sciences (biotechnology, biomanufacturing).
Category-based draws in 2025 may target skilled workers already residing in Canada, such as former international students or temporary foreign workers.
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IRCC maintains frequent engagement with stakeholders to guide its immigration planning processes. This includes regular consultations with the public and stakeholders to shape its annual Immigration Levels Plan. Currently, IRCC's 2024 consultation for the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan is underway, featuring a survey that seeks feedback on proposed immigration targets.
Additionally, IRCC conducts surveys with select organizations to gather input on strategic initiatives, including the categories used in immigration programs. These documents are not publicly available and do not guarantee changes, but they offer valuable insights into the diverse strategies IRCC is exploring.
IRCC has circulated a survey outlining the economic priorities and categories under consideration for 2025:
Addressing structural (long-term) labour market shortages, focusing on specific occupations in health, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, and potentially education.
Supporting economic growth by promoting Francophone immigration outside of Quebec.
Addressing emerging labour needs within Canada's critical industries and sectors, such as natural resources, new technologies, and applied sciences.
The survey indicates that Education is likely to be added as a category for category-based draws in 2025. Within this category, potential occupations that may be included are:
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers – NOC 41221
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants – NOC 43100
Early childhood educators and assistants – NOC 42202
Secondary school teachers – NOC 41220
Educational counsellors – NOC 41320
Instructors of persons with disabilities – NOC 42203
In addition to education, occupations in natural resources, new technologies, and applied sciences are also under consideration. Although specifics are not fully disclosed in the survey, examples of industries mentioned include:
Clean/green technology, quantum
Biotechnology, biomanufacturing
Critical mineral extraction for electric vehicle battery production
These sectors are likely to feature in future category-based draws as IRCC continues to refine its immigration strategies.
Based on the survey communication, it does not appear that IRCC intends to remove any categories in 2025. However, they may consider adjusting the number of occupations within each category, although the survey does not specify any intentions in this regard.
The survey did inquire about the effectiveness of targeting skilled workers with strong French language skills. Despite this scrutiny, IRCC's goal to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec to 8% by 2026 suggests that French language requirements are unlikely to be removed from the category list.
If your work experience falls into one of the proposed categories for 2025, it could significantly benefit your Express Entry profile. Given the high CRS cutoffs in general draws observed in 2024, these potential category updates could be a gamechanger for eligible candidates.
While it's unlikely that IRCC will implement immediate changes to its categories, if your occupation aligns with those expected in the 2025 list, it's advisable to plan ahead and enter the Express Entry pool promptly. If new occupations are introduced, there will likely be substantial interest when they are officially announced. Being an early entrant could also advantageously position you under the tie-breaking rule, where candidates with the same CRS score are ranked based on the date they entered the pool, with older profiles taking precedence.
The survey also suggests that IRCC is considering focusing category-based selection on temporary residents already in Canada rather than new skilled workers from abroad. This approach might involve merging category-based draws with requirements that align with the Canadian Experience Class program.
As this is an evolving situation, stay updated for further developments. Consider subscribing to channels for updates and notifications to ensure you receive the latest information.
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Contact us to explore your Canadian immigration options.
