Some job titles gone, others added

anada has significantly changed the Federal Skilled Worker Program, adding a new category – Education – and removing some job titles and NOC codes under other categories while adding other job titles under existing categories. The Federal Skilled Worker Program is a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals with, among other qualifying factors, strong education, work experience and language competency.

In late February, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the Federal Skilled Worker Program (Express Entry) categories under which “Category-based draws” will be made during 2025. These categories reflect bold changes to the existing categories of 2024, and an additional category – Education – under which there are five occupations. The Transport Category has been removed entirely, while the Healthcare category has expanded to include social service occupations and certain technology occupations. From the Agriculture and Agri-food category, two job titles have been removed.

For example, many Canadian teachers were born during the ‘baby boom’ era, and are retiring faster than their replacements can be trained. Primary and secondary school teachers trained and experienced outside Canada are strong candidates to be able to immigrate to Canada to continue their classroom teaching careers.

Categories

The following are skilled work categories from which Express Entry draws will be made for 2025. However, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) category, although it is still on the list, is no longer a priority category for issuance of ITAs (invitations to apply).

• Education occupations;
• Trades occupations;
• Healthcare and social service occupations;
• French-language proficiency;
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Emphasis is placed on individuals who have Canadian experience, which translates into CRS ranking points that position such individuals at an advantage over foreign nationals who neither studied nor worked in Canada.

Candidates with French-language proficiency who are in the Express Entry pool are targeted in draws which are consistently at a lower threshold than others.

Summary of changes

What should you do now?

• Tell us about yourself by completing our Initial Consultation form;
• Our initial conversation will let you know if you are a high-probability applicant. If you are, and you retain us and become a paying client, we’ll work with you to help you get into the Express Entry pool.