Canada Releases 2022 Annual Report on Express Entry.

Canada, a land of opportunity and diversity, is calling your name. If you've been dreaming of immigrating to Canada, the Express Entry system is your gateway to a brighter future.

In 2022, IRCC issued over 46,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) to Express Entry candidates, welcoming thousands of skilled workers and their families to Canada. And now, the 2022 Express Entry Annual Report is here to give you the insights you need to increase your chances of success.

 

Understanding Express Entry

In 2015, Canada launched the Express Entry system, a streamlined and efficient way for skilled workers from around the world to immigrate to Canada. The system has been a resounding success, with over 2 million people applying for permanent residence through Express Entry since its launch.

The Express Entry system is based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which scores candidates based on their age, education, work experience, language skills, and other factors. The highest-scoring candidates are then invited to apply for permanent residence.

In 2022, the Express Entry system welcomed over 40,000 new immigrants to Canada. These new Canadians come from all over the world and bring with them a wealth of skills and experience. They are doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. They are the people who will build Canada's future.

The 2022 Express Entry Annual Report provides a snapshot of the system and the people who are using it to come to Canada. The report shows that the Express Entry system is attracting highly skilled and qualified immigrants from all over the world. It also shows that the system is working to bring in the people that Canada needs to grow its economy and build a better future for its citizens.

The Express Entry system is Canada's gateway to a new life. It is a system that is fair, transparent, and efficient. It is a system that is working to bring the best and brightest people from around the world to Canada.

 

Key Highlights from the 2022 Report

Note: All data in this article pertains to the period from January to December 2022.

 

• Profile Submissions

In 2022, a total of 428,391 Express Entry profiles were submitted across all programs, representing a slight decrease of 3% from 2021 but a significant increase of 19% from 2020. This substantial number of profiles signifies the continued interest of skilled immigrants in pursuing permanent residence in Canada. Approximately 74% of these profiles were eligible for at least one of the immigration programs managed by Express Entry, a figure unchanged from the previous year.

 

• Gender Distribution

A closer look at the gender distribution among Express Entry profiles reveals that men accounted for 56%, while women made up 44%. This distribution remained consistent with the previous year. However, an encouraging trend emerged as women's eligibility for at least one program increased slightly to 78% in 2022. This shift indicates a positive change in gender balance among potential immigrants to Canada.

 

• CRS Scores

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, which determine candidate rankings based on various criteria, remained concentrated in the 301-500 range in 2022, despite a slight decrease in profile submissions. Notably, additional CRS points were awarded for candidates with Canadian education, French language proficiency, or siblings in Canada.

Education in Canada: Among candidates who submitted profiles in 2022, 23% met the criteria for additional points related to education in Canada. This reflects the desirability of Canadian educational credentials among prospective immigrants.

Siblings in Canada: Approximately 14% of candidates qualified for additional points due to having siblings in Canada, highlighting the importance of family ties in the immigration process.

 

• Invitations to Apply (ITAs)

IRCC held 24 Express Entry draws in 2022, issuing 46,539 ITAs. This marked a 59% decrease from the previous year, reflecting IRCC's decision to temporarily pause ITAs to the Federal High Skilled immigration programs, with a focus on PNP-specific rounds. While the number of ITAs decreased, the quality of candidates selected remained high, ensuring that Canada continues to attract skilled and eligible immigrants.

 

• ITAs by Gender, Age, Education, and Language Proficiency

An analysis of ITAs issued in 2022 reveals several interesting trends:

Gender: Men received the majority of ITAs in 2022, reflecting the proportion of profile submissions. This trend held true across different program types, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Age: Younger candidates aged 20-29 continued to receive the most ITAs, constituting 50% of all invitations. This age category is associated with the highest number of points under the CRS. However, candidates aged 30-34 experienced the largest proportional increase in ITAs, with a 29% rise from the previous year, indicating a shift towards recognizing the experience of slightly older applicants.

Education: Candidates with higher education levels were more likely to receive ITAs in 2022. Only 1% of ITAs were issued to applicants with a high school diploma or less. On the other hand, 46% of all ITAs went to those with a master's degree or entry-to-practice professional degree credential, reflecting Canada's preference for highly educated immigrants.

Language Proficiency: Generally, more ITAs in 2022 went to those with stronger first official language proficiency, according to their Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) score.

In order of score, the following lists the number of ITAs given to applicants at each CLB/NCLC 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

These numbers highlight the importance of strong language skills in improving one's CRS score and chances of receiving an ITA.

 

• Common Occupations

In 2022, occupations related to technology emerged as the most common among ITA recipients. Software engineers, information systems specialists, and computer systems developers and programmers topped the list, making up a significant proportion of candidates invited to apply through Express Entry. Additionally, food service supervisors and cooks featured prominently, reflecting Canada's need for skilled workers in various sectors.

 

• Citizenship and Residence

Canada, India, and Nigeria continued to be the top three countries of residence among ITA recipients. Most immigration candidates who received ITAs from the Express Entry system were residents of Canada (31,486), a trend consistent with previous years. India (3,787) and Nigeria (1,730) rounded out the top three countries of residence, indicating Canada's appeal as a destination for skilled immigrants.

A closer look at citizenship data shows that the top countries of citizenship among ITA recipients have also changed slightly over time. India has taken the top spot in each of the last three years. In 2020 and 2021, the People's Republic of China ranked second on this list. In 2022, Algeria emerged as the second most common country of citizenship among ITA recipients.

 

• Destination Provinces

Given the long history of Canadian permanent residents largely choosing to settle in three provinces—Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia—it is worth reviewing the province of destination among the 2022 Express Entry applicants.

Continuing the trend from years prior, most Express Entry applicants (16,978) settled in Ontario in 2022. Notably, however, the percentage of applicants who settled in this province is down from 61% in 2021 to 48% this past year. British Columbia (6,966) and Alberta (4,372) were once again the next two most popular provinces of destination, accounting for 20% and 12% of all Express Entry applicants, respectively.

Canada's three territories—Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon—continued to be the country's least popular Express Entry applicant destinations, with a total of 78 persons settling in these regions in 2022.

Note: Quebec-bound Express Entry applicants are not accounted for in this data, as the province operates its own distinct immigration programs.

 

• Application Processing Times

Application processing times increased in 2022, with the total processing time for applications from all programs rising from 8 months in 2021 to 21 months. Notably, this increase is largely a function of the average processing time for FSTP applications, which rose from 23 months in 2021 to 63 months in 2022. Broken down by program, 80% of CEC applications were processed within 19 months (up from 6 months in 2021), while FSWP applications took 29 months (up from 28 in 2021), and PNP applications took 13 months.

 

Winding Up

The Express Entry system is being expanded to better target areas of Canada's labor market with the greatest need for workers. This is being done through category-based draws, which specifically target candidates with proficiency in French or recent work experience in healthcare, STEM, transport, trades, or agriculture/agri-food.

So far in 2023, IRCC has issued 11,900 ITAs to candidates in these targeted categories. IRCC is continuing to look for ways to use the Express Entry system more effectively to attract skilled workers from around the world and benefit the Canadian economy.

 

Pelican Migration Consultants: Your Partner in Express Entry Success

If you are considering applying for permanent residence through Express Entry, Pelican Migration Consultants can help you every step of the way. We have a team of experienced and knowledgeable immigration consultants in Dubai who can help you create a strong Express Entry profile, optimize your CRS score, and prepare for your ITA.

We also offer a variety of other services, including:

• Pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for Express Entry
• Assistance with completing your Express Entry profile
• Review of your profile and CRS score optimization
• Preparation for your ITA and interview with IRCC
• Settlement assistance once you arrive in Canada

We are committed to helping our clients achieve their Canadian immigration goals. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.