Canada’s immigration department i.e., IRCC, has released an Express Entry annual report for the year 2022. 

Express Entry is the government’s application-based system, which intends to attract internationally skilled professionals seeking PR. 

Express Entry came into being in 2015 & consisted of three economic immigration programs, i.e., CEC, FSTP, & FSWP. Moreover, it is worth noting that this system manages PNP as well. PNP applicants must also be eligible for one out of the three programs mentioned above. 

Express Entry Profiles Submitted Last Year Went Down From 2021

In 2022, over 428,391 Express Entry profiles were submitted across numerous programs. This demonstrates a slight decrease of 3% from 2021 but an increase of 19% from the year 2020. Out of the Express Entry profiles which were submitted, over 74% were eligible for one of the three economic programs managed by Express Entry. 

In addition, more Express Entry profiles were submitted by men as compared to women. These proportions were unchanged from 2021. While the proportion of Express Entry profiles hasn’t changed from 2020 to 2021 by men, there was a slight increase from previous years in 2022 by women. 

The Majority Of Express Entry Profile Submission Were Made By Individuals Having CRS Score From 301 – 500

The CRS scores are primarily used for ranking Express Entry applicants depending on human capital factors like age, language capability, work experience, education, etc. The Express Entry annual report shows that the Express Entry pool is vivid & the distribution of CRS score changes with every new profile submission. 

However, every year, CRS scores for eligible/ qualified applicant profiles at the time of submission remained constantly focused in the 301 – 500 range, even though the total number of eligible Express Entry profiles submitted slightly decreased in 2022. 

Extra CRS points are offered when an applicant has been educated in Canada, has siblings in the nation, or has French language proficiency. Among applicants who submitted profiles last year, the majority of them did not meet the eligibility criteria for extra scores. Well, this was a graduation reduction since 2020 & 2021. This implies that an increasing number of applicants are eligible for at least one type of extra point. Applicants often met the eligibility criteria for having siblings in the nation & education in Canada. 

Who Was Invited To Apply For PR Via Express Entry? 

ITAs Issued By Draw In 2022

IRCC held over 24 Express Entry draws, wherein around 46,539 ITAs were issued. There was a 59% decrease from the 114 431 invitations issued in 2021, which reflected IRCC’s decision to pause ITAs to Federal High Skilled Immigration programs temporarily. IRCC continued only PNP-specific rounds from September 2021 until July 2022.  

Moreover, because of the pauses in temporary general round invitations, a major portion of ITAs were issued to applicants under two programs, i.e., 18,895 under CEC & 19,258 under PNP. 

The remaining 8,386 ITAs were issued to applicants under FSWP. Moreover, no ITAs were issued in FSTP last year. 

ITAs Issued Based On Gender 

Men obtained a significant portion of Express Entry invitations last year, i.e., 58%. This percentage was similar to the number of eligible profile submissions made by men as a proportion of total Express Entry profile submissions. Looking closely at the program, we would know that men were issued more ITAs as compared to women in CEC as well as PNP. 

However, this differs from Express Entry annual report of 2021, wherein a large proportion & number of ITAs issued to both genders were under CEC. 

ITAs Issued Depending Upon Age 

Regarding the age of the applicants having ITAs, the share of invitations issued to those aged 20-29 was the largest group in 2022. This age classification was related to the highest number of CRS points. However, those aged 30-34 were the second largest age group, thus witnessing the highest increase in proportion last year from 2021. 

ITAs Issued Based On The Level Of Education 

For a significant part, ITAs issued to Express Entry applicants last year increased according to an applicant’s education level. Last year, only 1% of ITAs were issued to candidates having a high school diploma or less. In addition, over 9% of the total ITAs were given to applicants who obtained one/two-year post-secondary credential & 40% of all ITAs were given to applicants with a post-secondary degree from a program of three years or more. Moreover, almost half of all ITAs in 2022 were given to applicants with a master’s degree or entry-to-participate professional degree credential. Lastly, PhD holders accounted for over 4% of total ITA recipients last year.       

ITAs Issued By Language Proficiency 

Generally, more ITAs in 2022 went to those with stronger first official language proficiency, as per CLB. 

In order of score, the following lists the number of ITAs given to applicants at each CLB level in 2022.

  • CLB/NCLC 4: 7 ITAs issued
  • CLB/NCLC 5: 817 ITAs issued
  • CLB/NCLC 6: 2,094 ITAs issued
  • CLB/NCLC 7: 9,444 ITAs issued
  • CLB/NCLC 8: 8,709 ITAs issued
  • CLB/NCLC 9: 15,587 ITAs issued
  • CLB/NCLC 10: 9,881 ITAs issued

ITAs Issued By Years Of Work Experience In Canada 

The majority of ITA recipients this past year had one year of relevant Canadian work experience. In addition, over 41% of total ITA recipients had one year of employment experience in Canada. 

The following significant proportion of ITA recipients had no work experience. The only group that obtained more than 4% of ITAs were Express Entry applicants with two years of Canadian employment experience, as 7,246 ITAs were given to people in this group. 

Applicants with the following amount of work experience obtained four or less percent of Express Entry ITAs in 2022.

  • Less than one year (1,957 ITAs, over 4%)
  • Three years (1,528 ITAs, over 3%)
  • Four years (480 ITAs, over 1%)
  • Five years (276 ITAs, less than 1%)

ITAs Issued By Years Of International Work Experience In 2022

International work experience in the 2022 Express Entry annual report showcases an interesting trend similar to Canadian work experience because ITAs did not simply rise with years of work experience abroad. In fact, although the highest percentage of ITAs were issued to applicants with five or more work experience, the next highest proportion of ITAs went to those having one year of work experience or less. 

The list below highlights the number of ITAs issued according to the applicant’s international work experience. 

  • One year: 3,796 ITAs
  • Two years: 3,267 ITAs
  • Three years 6,035 ITAs
  • Four years 4,621 ITAs

ITAs Issued By Extra Points Granted & Eligibility Criteria Met For Extra Points

The Express Entry annual report offers data on invitations issued to men & women who have met the eligibility criteria to obtain extra point types. Education in Canada & Arranged Employment were the commonly used extra point types for which both genders met eligibility criteria in 2022. 

Last year, both point types were the commonly used point type for men. Well, the commonly used point type for women included French language capabilities as well as Education In Canada.   

The share of those extra scores for Arranged Employment for both men & women remained stable over the last three years, wherein men met the criteria at a higher proportion as compared to women. While the number of ITAs issued to both men & women was equal, women met the eligibility criteria for the French language at a higher rate than men. 

The Top Three Professions Among ITA Recipients – Technology Industry 

There were major transitions from previous years in the most common professions among applicants invited to apply for PR via Express Entry last year. 

In 2021, there was a transition to CEC as well as PNP-specific invitation rounds. As a result, this higher number of applicants were in TEER 2 professions. In addition, applicants with TEER 1 professions were a prominent proportion of ITAs last year. 

Professions in the technological field included software engineers, computer system developers, programmers, information system specialists, etc. Moreover, cooks & food service supervisors were also primary professions for applicants invited to apply in 2022. 

Software Engineers & Designers Were Assigned The Most Arranged Employment Scores/ Points

The most common profession among applicants invited to apply who were granted Arranged Employment scores changed from food service supervisors in 2020 & 2021 to software engineers & designers. 

There was an equal distribution of TEER categories of the top 15 professions. 

Most ITA Recipients Were Residents Of India, Canada, & Nigeria

Last year, most immigration applicants who obtained an ITA via the Express Entry system were Canadian residents. This continues as a trend as Canada was also the top country of residence among ITA recipients in 2021 & 2020. Moreover, among foreign Express Entry candidates who obtained an ITA, most newcomers were residents of India & Nigeria. 

Below is the entire list of the top ten nations of residence among 2022 ITA recipients: 

  • Canada 
  • India 
  • Nigeria
  • Algeria 
  • United States of America 
  • Lebanon 
  • Morocco
  • United Arab Emirates 
  • France 
  • Cameroon 

Most Recipients Held Indian Citizenship, Followed By China & Algeria 

Further, the Express Entry annual report shows that the top nations of citizenship among ITA recipients have changed slightly over time. Presently, India is at the top position for the last three years. Moreover, in 2020 & 2021, the People’s Republic of China ranked second. Finally, while 6,550 Nigerian citizens obtained ITAs in 2020, citizens from the Republic of Korea had the third most ITA recipients in 2021.

Just like the data mentioned above, here is a list of the top ten nations of citizenship. Take a look!

  • India 
  • Cameroon 
  • Algeria
  • France
  • Iran
  • People’s Republic of China  
  • Philippines 
  • United States of America   
  • Pakistan 
  • Morocco 

Most ITA Recipients Continue To Settle In Ontario, Alberta, & BC 

Given the long history of Canadian permanent residents choosing to settle in three provinces, i.e., Ontario, Alberta, & BC, it is worth reviewing the province of destination among the 2022 Express Entry candidates. 

Continuing the trends of years before, most Express Entry applicants chose to settle in Ontario. However, the number of candidates who settled in this province is down from 61% (2021) to 48% (2022). In addition, BC & Alberta were the next two most popular provinces of destination, accounting for 20% & 12% of all Express Entry candidates. 

Once again, following the same trend as two years before, Canada’s three territories, i.e., Nunavut, Yukon, & Northwest Territories, were the nation’s least popular Express Entry places. 

Express Entry Application Processing Time Slower Than 2021

For the second year in a row, the processing time for applications has risen for most Express Entry candidates. In 2022, the total processing time for applications for all-program rose from eight months in 2021. Well, this is largely a function of application processing time, which is defined as the number of months IRCC takes to finalize over 80% of applications. Broken down by the program, over 80% of CEC applications were processed within 19 months, while FSWP applications took over 13 months.  

Conclusion 

Being in its seventh year of operation, Express Entry remains a reliable source of immigration for Canada’s federal government. In addition, it is a popular pathway to Canada for international applicants across the globe. Through three economic immigration programs under Express Entry, thousands of highly skilled internal applicants were offered PRs nationwide. 

Although the number of ITAs issued last year decreased by 59% from the year before, IRCC continued to welcome qualified/ eligible economic immigrants to Canada who should be able to acclimate well to the nation & aid its social & economic progression. 

Futuristically speaking, the Express Entry system has expanded itself to target some of the areas within Canada’s labor market with the nation’s prominent employment needs & gaps. This has been achieved via IRCC’s category-based Express Entry draws, which took place on June 28, 2023. These draws particularly targeted immigration applicants with French proficiency or relevant work experience in the five professional groups, i.e., healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, & agriculture/ agri-food. Category-based draws have been an integral part of Canada’s progress towards addressing the nation’s potent labor market challenges. 

Moreover, IRCC has already issued 11,900 ITAs to immigration applicants across these targeted categories in 2023. 

In addition, IRCC will continue to look for ways that Express Entry could be effectively used to ensure Canada can benefit from a global skilled worker community. Meanwhile, it will continue to offer applicants one of the world’s top destinations for immigrants/ newcomers.