On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant updates to the Express Entry system to better align with the country's evolving labour market needs.
Introduction of the Education Category:
A notable addition is the new Education category, targeting professionals in the education sector. This category encompasses five specific occupations:
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
Instructors of persons with disabilities
Early childhood educators and assistants
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
Secondary school teachers
This initiative aims to address the growing demand for qualified educators across Canada.
Removal of the Transport Category:
Concurrently, the Transport category has been removed from the list of category-based draws. This shift reflects IRCC's efforts to realign immigration priorities with current labour market demands.
Revisions to Existing Categories:
IRCC has also revised existing categories to better address labour shortages:
Healthcare and Social Services Occupations: Eight new occupations have been added, including pharmacists, social workers, and dental hygienists, while six occupations have been removed.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Occupations: Six occupations have been added, such as civil engineering technologists and technicians, whereas 19 occupations have been removed.
Trades Occupations: Nineteen new occupations have been incorporated, including carpenters and plumbers, with four occupations removed.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations: Two occupations have been removed, leaving butchers—retail and wholesale—as the sole occupation in this category.
Prioritized Categories for 2025
For 2025, IRCC has identified four priority categories for invitations to apply (ITAs) through category-based draws:
French-language proficiency
Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
Trades Occupations
Education Occupations
These priorities underscore Canada's commitment to attracting skilled professionals in sectors experiencing significant labour shortages and to supporting the vitality of French-speaking communities outside Quebec.