How does Canada's Express Entry ITA count this year stack up

Canada’s Express Entry system has seen significant changes over the past two years.

In 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced category-based selection draws under Express Entry, a policy designed to target candidates that align with the country’s economic and demographic priorities.

But have these changes impacted the way candidates are invited through the Express Entry system? Below is a comparison of Express Entry draws in 2024 so far versus the same period in 2023. While IRCC has issued more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) this year than at this point in 2023, a more detailed analysis of the data is necessary for a clearer picture.

What is category-based selection?

Category-based selection draws are a tool used by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within the Express Entry system. These draws allow IRCC to prioritize candidates based on specific human capital factors—namely professional experience and language skills—rather than relying solely on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.

Currently, Express Entry categories focus on the following:

Healthcare occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations
Trade occupations
Transport occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
French language proficiency

How many ITAs has Canada issued this year compared to last year?

As of the latest draw on September 19th, 2024, IRCC has issued 84,874 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry. By the same date in 2023, 81,948 ITAs had been issued.

It’s important to note that the allocation of landed immigrants through the Express Entry system has shifted between 2023 and 2024. In 2023, IRCC aimed to welcome 82,800 immigrants through Express Entry under the “Federal High Skilled” category of the Immigration Levels Plan. In 2024, this target has increased to 110,770 immigrants.

How does Canada's Express Entry ITA count this year stack up against last year's numbers? — How does Canada’s Express Entry ITA count this year stack up against last year’s numbers?

How many draws has IRCC held through Express Entry this year compared to last year?

So far in 2024, IRCC has conducted 37 Express Entry draws across nine different categories and streams. The average draw size this year is 2,294 ITAs, although the number varies depending on the category or stream involved.

By the same time in 2023, IRCC had held 28 draws across eight different categories and streams, with an average draw size of 2,927 ITAs. As in 2024, the number of ITAs issued per draw varied significantly based on the selected category or stream.

The difference in the number of draws is partly due to a record-breaking July for the Express Entry system in 2024, during which IRCC conducted nine draws—the highest number ever held in a single month since the program’s launch in 2015.

Which streams/categories have had the most draws in 2024 compared to 2023?

The table below highlights the number of draws by category or stream, along with the number of ITAs issued so far in 2024, compared to the same period in 2023:

Draws and ITAs by Category/Stream (2024 vs. 2023)

Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations Category
2024: 0 draws, 0 ITAs
2023: 1 draw, 150 ITAs
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
2024: 6 draws, 24,800 ITAs
2023: 0 draws, 0 ITAs
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
2024: 0 draws, 0 ITAs
2023: 1 draw, 3,300 ITAs
French Language Proficiency Category
2024: 8 draws, 20,400 ITAs
2023: 3 draws, 6,900 ITAs
Healthcare Occupations Category
2024: 2 draws, 7,250 ITAs
2023: 2 draws, 2,000 ITAs
General (includes CEC, FSWP, and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP))
2024: 9 draws, 14,445 ITAs
2023: 0 draws, 0 ITAs
No Program Specified (includes CEC, FSWP, and FSTP)
2024: 0 draws, 0 ITAs
2023: 15 draws, 63,900 ITAs
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
2024: 8 draws, 10,554 ITAs
2023: 4 draws, 2,848 ITAs
STEM Occupations Category
2024: 1 draw, 4,500 ITAs
2023: 1 draw, 500 ITAs
Trade Occupations Category
2024: 1 draw, 1,800 ITAs
2023: 1 draw, 1,500 ITAs
Transport Occupations Category
2024: 1 draw, 975 ITAs
2023: 1 draw, 1,000 ITAs

It’s important to note the significant rise in Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws through the Express Entry system since May and June of this year, respectively. This increase follows comments from Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who mentioned the intention to conduct more “domestic draws” for Express Entry candidates. In 2023, there were only four PNP draws and no CEC draws under Express Entry. In contrast, as of now in 2024, there have already been eight PNP draws and six CEC draws.

Additionally, the French Language Proficiency category has become increasingly significant. While there were just three draws for this category in 2023, 2024 has already seen eight draws. IRCC has also indicated that the allocation of French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec is expected to increase from 6% this year to 8% by 2026.

Lastly, to facilitate a better comparison of cut-off scores across various streams and categories, the table below outlines the highest and lowest CRS cut-off scores for categories and streams that were selected multiple times in both 2023 and 2024.