In the recently concluded month of November, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continued its strategy from previous months for Express Entry invitations, placing significant emphasis on Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and certain designated categories (particularly candidates in healthcare and those with strong French language abilities). Similar to the levels in October and September, the total number of invitations in November remained around 5,000 to 6,000, aiming to meet the targets of future immigration quota plans.

Breakdown of Categories and Invitation Scales

In November, IRCC held six Express Entry draws, with a predominant allocation of invitations going to PNP, CEC, and specific category candidates (including those in healthcare and strong French language cohorts).

• Large-scale Healthcare Category Invitations: the most notable event this month was the category-based draw on November 20 targeting healthcare occupations, issuing 3,000 invitations in a single draw—over half of the total invitations for the month.
• Ongoing Strength in the French Language Category: the French language proficiency draw on November 15 issued 800 invitations, resulting in as many as 69% of November’s invitations going to healthcare and French language category candidates.
• Modest Distribution for CEC and PNP: compared to the specific categories, CEC (total of 800 invitations in November) and PNP (907 invitations in November) had relatively smaller numbers. Due to the slight reduction in CEC and PNP invitation numbers, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) thresholds for these two categories remained relatively high in November.

Detailed November Invitation Data:

From this data, it’s clear that IRCC’s overall Express Entry strategy aligns with its latest Immigration Levels Plan, determining invitation directions through an “In-Canada Focus” and “Federal Economic Priorities.” The former includes PNP and CEC, and may also encompass candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP); the latter targets applicants with specific skill sets and strong language abilities.

IRCC had already indicated in an internal memo from July this year that upcoming category-based draws would continue to focus on three main areas:

1. Candidates with healthcare-related work experience;
2. Candidates with skilled trades (Trades) experience;
3. Candidates with strong French language proficiency.

Additionally, a consistent pattern since July shows that PNP rounds typically precede CEC and other category-based draws, a trend that continued in November’s data.

Comparison of Total Invitations Over the Past Three Months

This stability in invitation pacing and volume over the past few months has laid a solid foundation for meeting immigration quota objectives over the next two years.

Early December Express Entry Pool Overview

As of December 1, 2024, the latest data shows there are 218,490 candidates in the Express Entry pool. CRS scores are heavily concentrated in the 351-400 range (over 50,000 candidates), with substantial numbers also present across various ranges from 401-500. Candidates scoring above 600 points are relatively few—only about 738.

CRS Score Distribution

From a proportional standpoint, candidates scoring between 501-600 make up roughly 8.55% of the pool, while those above 600 points constitute less than 0.5%. This indicates that candidates receiving PNP bonus points or possessing extremely strong overall profiles remain a minority.

Outlook and Trends

Based on currently disclosed information and recent invitation trends, IRCC is expected to continue the “PNP first, then CEC, followed by category-based draws” sequencing. The focus will remain on healthcare, skilled trades, and candidates with strong French language proficiency. By precisely targeting candidates with certain skills and language backgrounds, Canada aims to ensure that future economic-class immigrants better meet labor market needs and that the overall selection process becomes more refined and strategic.

Overall, November’s Express Entry performance provides a clear signal: IRCC will continue to steadily implement its invitation plan according to established guidelines, balancing various immigration goals while fostering economic growth and cultural diversity in Canada’s future.