As Canada continues to prioritize immigration through the Express Entry system, the 2024 Express Entry report highlights crucial trends that can help prospective immigrants navigate their path to Permanent Residence (PR). This new data provides valuable insights into who has been receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) and what factors have made them successful in the highly competitive Express Entry pool.
One of the most significant findings in the 2024 report is that foreign work experience may now be more important than Canadian work experience in securing PR through Express Entry. The report reveals that while the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates received the most ITAs last year, a surprising one-third of all invited candidates had no Canadian work experience whatsoever. This indicates a shift in the immigration landscape, where foreign work experience, combined with other factors such as language proficiency, is increasingly recognized as a major asset.
Notably, only 1% of all candidates who received an ITA had no foreign work experience, signaling that while Canadian experience is valuable, foreign work experience remains crucial for candidates aiming for higher CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scores. Moreover, more than half (56%) of all invited candidates had two years of Canadian work experience or less, further demonstrating that applicants with a mix of both foreign and Canadian experience are more likely to succeed.
In terms of how Express Entry draws were structured in 2024, Canada continued its focus on in-country candidates. A substantial 98,903 ITAs were issued, with a large proportion (67,817) being granted to applicants already living in Canada. This trend reflects the federal government’s commitment to transitioning temporary residents, such as international students and temporary foreign workers, into permanent residents. This prioritization also speaks to Canada’s need for skilled workers to fill labor shortages across the country, without significantly increasing short-term population pressures.
India remained the leading source of ITA recipients, with 43,004 Indian citizens receiving invitations in 2024. However, Francophone countries, such as Cameroon, Morocco, and Algeria, are seeing an increase in success within the Express Entry system, largely due to the growing influence of French-language proficiency category-based draws. This has expanded opportunities for candidates from French-speaking countries who meet the minimum language requirements (NCLC 7 or higher) and have the necessary work experience.
The breakdown of ITAs in 2024 by category and occupation revealed further trends in the types of candidates being invited. As expected, Information Technology (IT) and healthcare occupations made up the majority of the top professions for ITA recipients, with roles such as software engineers, nurses, and general practitioners leading the pack. This aligns with Canada’s increasing demand for professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, as well as healthcare professionals to address aging demographics and healthcare system demands.
Interestingly, while high-demand occupations like software engineers (3,715 ITAs) and nurses (1,776 ITAs) are prominent, other roles such as food service supervisors and administrative assistants also made the list, despite not being on the targeted occupation lists. These invitations were most likely issued through general or CEC draws, reinforcing the importance of overall human capital strength (education, age, language proficiency) rather than just specific work experience in targeted NOC (National Occupational Classification) codes.
The report highlights that general work experience, coupled with skills-transferability factors such as education and language proficiency, played a significant role in ITA issuances. Over 65,000 ITAs (or approximately 66%) were issued based on general qualifications and competencies, rather than occupation-specific requirements.
Program and Category-Based Draws
Another key takeaway from the report is the way different Express Entry programs have contributed to ITA issuances. For example, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), which continues to prioritize in-country candidates, issued the most ITAs of any single draw type, with 26,500 invitations in 2024 and an average CRS score of 524. This underscores the Canadian government’s strategy to leverage existing skilled labor in the country, especially international graduates and temporary foreign workers, to strengthen the Canadian economy.
On the other hand, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, which are highly competitive, issued 15,483 ITAs. These draws had the highest average CRS cut-off score of 725 points, signaling that those invited through the PNP needed to have stronger qualifications to secure an ITA.
French-language proficiency emerged as another powerful factor in Express Entry success, with the French language category issuing the second-largest number of ITAs at 23,000 invitations. French-speaking candidates had a much lower CRS cut-off score of 409, highlighting the ongoing demand for bilingual professionals in Canada.
Shifting Trends in 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, some trends observed in 2024 continue to evolve. French-language proficiency continues to lead ITA issuances, with 36,000 invitations already issued by November 2025. Meanwhile, healthcare and social services occupations have gained prominence, with 9,792 ITAs issued to candidates in these sectors. This shift is a direct response to the growing healthcare needs in Canada and the increasing recognition of these professions within the Express Entry system.
Additionally, general draws-a category that was prevalent in 2024-have seen fewer ITAs issued in 2025. This shift suggests that the Express Entry system is becoming more targeted, with a focus on candidates with specialized skills and qualifications that align with Canada’s evolving labor market needs.
Conclusion
The 2024 Express Entry report provides valuable insights into the factors influencing PR success, particularly the growing importance of foreign work experience and language proficiency. With a shift towards in-country candidates and increased competition, candidates who combine foreign and Canadian work experience, have strong language skills, and fall within in-demand professions will have the best chances of receiving an ITA. Those aiming to apply should consider getting a personalized Express Entry assessment to better understand their standing in the current immigration landscape and tailor their approach accordingly.
