The composition of the Express Entry candidate pool has shifted notably after the removal of arranged employment points from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
As a result, thousands of candidates have experienced a CRS score drop of either 50 or 200 points, significantly affecting their likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.
Major Changes in the Express Entry Pool Following CRS Update
The removal of CRS points for arranged employment has significantly reshaped the Express Entry candidate pool. The most noticeable impact was in the 501–600 CRS score range, which saw a sharp drop of 5,740 profiles. Similar declines were observed in:
- 491–500 range: down by 1,618 profiles
- 481–490 range: down by 984 profiles
Together, these high-scoring ranges lost a total of 8,342 profiles between March 16 and April 14, 2025. These candidates were likely redistributed to lower score ranges, assuming their profiles didn’t expire.
Despite these losses, the total number of candidates in the pool grew by 7,373 during this period—highlighting the impact of the policy change more than natural profile turnover.
Significant increases were seen in lower score ranges, most notably:
- 461–470: up by 2,157 profiles
- 451–460: up by 1,750 profiles
- 401–450: up by 5,814 profiles
It’s likely that many candidates previously boosted by arranged employment (worth 50 CRS points) shifted down into these ranges after the change.
Change in Express Entry Profiles (March 16 – April 14, 2025)
| CRS Score Range | Profile Change |
|---|---|
| 601–1200 | +123 |
| 501–600 | -5,740 |
| 491–500 | -1,618 |
| 481–490 | -984 |
| 471–480 | +182 |
| 461–470 | +2,157 |
| 451–460 | +1,750 |
| 401–450 | +5,814 |
| 351–400 | +1,677 |
| 301–350 | +1,496 |
| 0–300 | +2,516 |
| Total | +7,373 |
Current Express Entry Pool Composition (as of April 14, 2025)
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601–1200 | 816 |
| 501–600 | 19,782 |
| 451–500 | 71,542 |
| 401–450 | 67,301 |
| 351–400 | 53,479 |
| 301–350 | 22,799 |
| 0–300 | 8,563 |
| Total | 244,282 |
Although the overall pool grew by nearly 26,000 profiles since December 2024, certain CRS ranges—especially those above 480—have returned to their previous levels. This suggests that the score redistribution due to the loss of arranged employment points has had a leveling effect on the pool.
Big drop in CRS scores after removal of points for arranged employment | CIC News
