Canada Conducts Inaugural Category – Based Express Entry Draw for Healthcare Workers
Canada Express Entry Draw for Healthcare Workers
On June 28th, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) extended invitations to 500 healthcare workers through the newly introduced Express Entry category-based selection draws. These candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476.
This marks the inaugural category-based selection draw following the announcement of the six new categories on May 31. The next draw, scheduled for July 5, will invite 1,500 workers to apply for immigration.
Details of the draw:
- Total ITAs issued: 500
- Type of draw: Healthcare occupations (2023-1)
- Date and time of round: June 28, 2023 14:04:34 UTC
- CRS cutoff score: 476
- Tie-breaking rule: November 12, 2022 12:47:27 UTC
apply for permanent under the Express Entry system
Additionally, there are expectations of a draw in the same week targeting eligible candidates from the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
The category-based selection for Express Entry introduced by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on May 31 has prioritized healthcare occupations as a significant component.
Out of the six newly established categories, healthcare occupations encompass the largest pool of eligible professions, with a total of 35 distinct occupations included:
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- Chiropractors
- Dentists
- Dieticians and nutritionists
- Education counselors
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Instructors of persons with disabilities
- Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- Licensed practical nurses
- Massage therapists
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- Medical laboratory technologists
- Medical radiation technologists
- Medical sonographers
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
- Nurse practitioners
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- Occupational therapists
- Optometrists
- Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- Other practitioners of natural healing
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- Paramedical occupations
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
- Physiotherapists
- Psychologists
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Specialists in surgery
- Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- Veterinarians
- Other categories include:
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transportation
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Strong French language proficiency
Canada is currently grappling with a significant shortage of healthcare workers, a problem exacerbated by factors such as the country’s low birth rates and aging population. With approximately nine million Canadians expected to reach the retirement age of 65 in the next seven years, the demand for the healthcare system is projected to rise substantially.
To address this shortage, Canada is relying on immigrants to fill crucial positions and compensate for the diminishing number of younger Canadians. According to recent job vacancy data from Statistics Canada, as of March 2023, the healthcare and social assistance sector accounted for 144,500 vacant positions, comprising 17.7% of all unfilled positions.
To address this shortage, Canada is relying on immigrants to fill crucial positions and compensate for the diminishing number of younger Canadians. According to recent job vacancy data from Statistics Canada, as of March 2023, the healthcare and social assistance sector accounted for 144,500 vacant positions, comprising 17.7% of all unfilled positions.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, several provinces and territories have already implemented targeted streams within their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) to attract healthcare professionals. For instance, Alberta has introduced a Designated Healthcare Pathway as part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, British Columbia regularly invites healthcare professionals in their BC PNP draws, and Ontario recently extended invitations to 318 foreign workers in healthcare occupations.
The implementation of category-based selection draws, as anticipated this year, was made possible by changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022. These changes grant the Canadian immigration minister the authority to select economic immigrants based on specific attributes that align with the country’s economic priorities or facilitate the promotion of French-speaking immigration to communities outside of Quebec.
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List of Provincial Nominee Program
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
