Canada will issue its first occupation-specific Express Entry invitations to STEM candidates in July, it has announced.
The invitations – to be made in “the week of July 5” – comes after healthcare workers received the first 500 ITAs in the history of the selection system this week.
They will be issued to Express Entry candidates with experience in 24 occupations, including data scientists, software developers and programmers, mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries, and electrical and electronics engineers.
Candidates for STEM jobs – those in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields – are some of the most in-demand in Canada.
“Canada’s ability to remain at the cutting edge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics depends largely on our country’s ability to recruit top talent from around the world,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“I’m excited to announce this STEM category-based selection round … which will increase access to permanent residence for skilled workers with STEM experience.
“We look forward to welcoming these talented and innovative newcomers to our country.”
Full List Of STEM Jobs To Be Targeted
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
| Architects | 21200 | 1 |
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | 0 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 | 1 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 | 0 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | 1 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 | 1 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Data scientists | 21211 | 1 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | 1 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Engineering managers | 20010 | 0 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 | 1 |
| Land surveyors | 21203 | 1 |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 | 1 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | 1 |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | 1 |
| Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers | 41400 | 1 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 | 1 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 | 1 |
| Urban and land use planners | 21202 | 1 |
| Web designers | 21233 | 1 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 | 1 |
STEM is the second of five categories for which occupation-specific draws have been announced, covering 82 National Occupational Classification codes.
Healthcare workers received 500 invitations this week, and will receive another 1,500 on July 5, Fraser has announced.
The other three categories are trades, transport and agriculture and agri-food.
New draws will also target candidates with strong French language ability.
Read More Canada Immigration News
Lower CRS Scores The Likely Result Of Canada Express Entry Occupation-Specific Draws
Canada Express Entry Occupation Draws: Every One Of The 82 Jobs To Be Targeted
Canada Express Entry To Begin Occupation-Based Draws Targeting 82 Jobs
To be eligible, candidates must have accumulated, within the past three years, at least six months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in one of the individual occupations, a full list of which are available further down this article.
The aim is to make Express Entry, which manages applications for federal immigration streams including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class, as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Program, more responsive to labour market needs.
The decision to also target francophone candidates is intended to support French-speaking communities across Canada.
Changes To Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act
Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.
The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.
Under the changes to the act, the Immigration Minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.
Watch Video
IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason or the choices.
Employment and Social Development Canada says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, Federal High Skilled admissions accounted for between 34 per cent and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.