Canada’s 2025 Express Entry Overhaul: Trade Workers Now Have a Faster Path to PR

If you’re a skilled trade worker dreaming of moving to Canada, 2025 could be your year. Canada has made bold and strategic updates to its Express Entry immigration system—this time, giving trade workers the spotlight they’ve long deserved.

In February 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded the category-based Express Entry draws, placing a clear emphasis on skilled trades. Whether you’re a welder, cook, carpenter, electrician, or heavy-duty mechanic, your skills are more in demand than ever. This update not only reflects Canada’s labor market needs but opens an accelerated path to Permanent Residency (PR) for thousands of workers globally.

At Guide Me Immigration, we’re excited to help trade professionals like you take advantage of this golden opportunity. In this article, we’ll explore what’s changed, who qualifies, and why now is the perfect time to apply.

🌍 Why Canada Is Prioritizing Skilled Trades in 2025

Canada is experiencing a widespread shortage of skilled tradespeople. From housing construction to industrial projects and public infrastructure, provinces and employers alike are struggling to fill critical roles.

Retirements, lack of new talent, and increasing demand in trades have all contributed to this shortfall. Recognizing the need, Canada has:

• Increased immigration targets through category-based draws

• Lowered CRS thresholds for trades compared to general draws

• Expanded the number of eligible occupations under the Trade category

This is more than a policy shift — it’s an open door for international tradespeople to make Canada their home.

✅ What Is the Express Entry Trade Category?

The Express Entry system is Canada’s flagship application management system for skilled immigrants. In 2023, IRCC introduced category-based draws within Express Entry, focusing on labor market priorities like healthcare, STEM, French language, and—most recently—trades.

As of February 27, 2025, IRCC revised the Trade category with the most significant changes yet:

• 19 new occupations added

• 4 occupations removed

• Total eligible trade occupations: 25

This category targets individuals with recent experience in one of the listed trade occupations, making it easier for them to get selected from the Express Entry pool—even with a lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

🧰 Who’s Eligible Under the 2025 Trade Category?

You may qualify for this stream if:

1. You meet the basic eligibility for Express Entry (language, education, work experience, etc.)

2. You have at least 6 months of continuous full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in one of the eligible trade occupations

3. Your work experience was within the last 3 years

4. Your work aligns with the National Occupation Classification (NOC) description for your job

Importantly, your experience must be in a single occupation—you can’t combine time across different trades.

🔍 What Are the Eligible Occupations for 2025?

Here are the 25 eligible trades (NOC 2021 codes included), with new additions bolded:

• Bricklayers – 72320

• Cabinetmakers – 72311

• Carpenters – 72310

• Concrete finishers – 73100

• Construction estimators – 22303

• Construction managers – 70010

• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics – 72400

• Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services – 82021

• Cooks – 63200

• Electrical mechanics – 72422

• Electricians (except industrial and power system) – 72200

• Floor covering installers – 73113

• Gas fitters – 72302

• Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics – 72402

• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – 72401

• Home building and renovation managers – 70011

• Industrial electricians – 72201

• Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors – 72100

• Other technical trades and related occupations – 72999

• Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) – 73112

• Plumbers – 72300

• Roofers and shinglers – 73110

• Sheet metal workers – 72102

• Water well drillers – 72501

• Welders and related machine operators – 72106

From managing construction sites to hands-on technical repair, these occupations reflect the growing demand for both supervisory and manual trade labor across Canada.

🔧 Do Apprenticeship Jobs Count?

Yes! If you’re working as an apprentice, your job can qualify, provided you’re performing most of the core duties for the trade. Many applicants qualify based on apprenticeship-level experience, especially if they’ve had at least six months of continuous employment.

📉 What Are the CRS Score Trends?

One of the most attractive benefits of category-based draws is the lower CRS score requirement.

In 2024:

• General Express Entry draws required CRS scores between 524–549

• Trade category draws required only 433–436

That’s a massive difference — nearly 100 points! Even applicants with moderate English, high school education, and a few years of work experience have a shot.

This means even if you don’t have a job offer or Canadian work experience, you can still receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under the Trade category.

💡 Step-by-Step: How to Know If You’re Eligible

Step 1: Identify Your NOC

Visit the NOC website and use the search function to find the best-fit code for your job title.

Step 2: Match Job Duties

Cross-reference the lead statement and main duties on the ESDC website. Your job must closely match.

Step 3: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure your NOC code is on the list of 25 eligible trade occupations for 2025.

Step 4: Create an Express Entry Profile

If eligible, submit your profile and indicate your work experience accurately.

✈️ Why Choose Canada?

• High demand for trades = excellent job opportunities

• Free healthcare and public education

• Supportive environment for skilled immigrants

• Path to citizenship

• Family sponsorship options

• Multiple settlement programs

Many provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and BC, are actively seeking to fill labor shortages in construction, food services, mechanical trades, and energy infrastructure.

🛡️ How Guide Me Immigration Can Help

At Guide Me Immigration, we specialize in helping skilled workers navigate the complexities of Canada’s immigration system.

We offer:
✅ Personalized eligibility assessments
✅ NOC code guidance and job duty matching
✅ Express Entry profile creation
✅ Full document preparation
✅ Application reviews
✅ Interview and biometric guidance
✅ Post-ITA support

Our regulated consultants are up to date with the latest immigration trends, ensuring your application is strong, complete, and optimized for success.

📞 Start Your Canadian PR Journey Today!

Don’t miss this opportunity. If you’re a skilled trade worker with at least six months of experience, now is the time to act.

Contact us today for a free consultation or eligibility assessment. We’ll walk you through your options and help you take the first step toward permanent residency.

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🌐 www.guidemeimmigration.com
📞 +1 (306) 700 7440
✉ info@guidemeimmigration.com

🔧 Skilled in a trade? Let Canada value your hands-on talent. Let us help you turn it into permanent residency.