On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revealed significant updates to the Express Entry system, including the introduction of a new category and the removal of another.
Key Updates to Express Entry Categories
- New Education Category Introduced
- Five occupations have been added under this new category.
- Transport Category Removed
- Transport is no longer part of category-based draws.
- Expanded Healthcare Category
- Several social services occupations have been added to the existing Healthcare category.
Updated Express Entry Categories
As per IRCC’s website, the current Express Entry categories include:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Services occupations
- Agriculture and Agri-food occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
However, IRCC has prioritized the following categories for 2025:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Services occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
These categories will receive priority for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry category-based draws.
Changes to Existing Express Entry Categories
Many of the retained categories have seen modifications, with some occupations added and others removed.
| Category | Occupations Added | Occupations Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8 | 6 |
| STEM | 6 | 19 |
| Trades | 19 | 4 |
| Agriculture and Agri-food | 0 | 2 |
Healthcare and Social Services
Newly Added Occupations:
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104)
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123)
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111)
- Other medical technologists and technicians (32129)
- Pharmacists (31120)
- Pharmacy technicians (32124)
- Social and community service workers (42201)
- Social workers (41300)
Removed Occupations:
- Educational counsellors (41320)
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (42203)
- Kinesiologists and other professional therapy occupations (31204)
- Other assisting occupations in health services (33109)
- Natural healing practitioners (32209)
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (32200)
STEM Category
Newly Added Occupations:
- Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310)
- Geological engineers (21331)
- Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (22301)
- Mechanical engineers (21301)
- Insurance agents and brokers (63100)
Removed Occupations:
- Architects (21200)
- Business systems specialists (21221)
- Computer and information systems managers (20012)
- Software engineers and designers (21231)
- Web developers and designers (21234, 21233)
- Urban and land use planners (21202)
- Many other STEM-related roles
Trades Category
Newly Added Occupations:
- Contractors and supervisors in oil and gas drilling (82021)
- Floor covering installers (73113)
- Roofers and shinglers (73110)
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401)
- Construction managers (70010)
- Many other skilled trade positions
Removed Occupations:
- Residential and commercial installers and servicers (73200)
- Elevator constructors and mechanics (72406)
- Machine fitters (72405)
- Other construction trade supervisors (72014)
Agriculture and Agri-Food Category
Removed Occupations:
- Landscaping and horticulture service contractors (82031)
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (82030)
New Education Category – Occupations Added
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (43100)
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (42203)
- Early childhood educators and assistants (42202)
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (41221)
- Secondary school teachers (41220)
How Express Entry Categories Are Determined
IRCC determines Express Entry categories based on Canada’s economic and demographic needs. Occupation-based categories address labor shortages, while the French-language proficiency category aligns with Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and supporting Francophone communities outside Quebec.
These changes reflect Canada’s evolving workforce priorities and aim to streamline immigration for high-demand fields.
Canada announces major changes to Express Entry categories | CIC News
