Trades Occupation (2023-1): First-Ever Express Entry Draw Invites 1,500 Profiles For PR

Highlights

1. IRCC held its seventh category-based Express Entry draw on August 03.
2. August 03 marks the 261st Express Entry draw since 2015.
3. 1,500 Express Entry profiles having work experience in trades professions – carpenters, plumbers, electricians, welders, HVAC technicians, contractors, and supervisors – received invitations to apply for Canada PR.
4. The qualifying CRS score stood at 388 points.
5. So far, IRCC invited 10,000+ targeted profiles to apply for PR under new category-based selections.

Yesterday, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first-ever category-based selection under the Express Entry system for trades occupation. 

As a result, 1,500 eligible candidates received invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residency (PR). It included only registered profiles under FSWP, CEC, or FSTP, and those qualifying under the Trades occupation (2023-1) category received nominations. 

Whereas, all the invited candidates had a qualifying score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) above 388. It is possible that IRCC considered profiles submitted on or before June 07, 2023, at 07:03:08 UTC in case of a tie in the CRS score. 

However, there is no CRS benchmark for the new Trades occupation (2023-1) category. The closest reference is the FSTP-specific EE draw held on August 2020, requiring eligible candidates to have CRS 415 to apply. 

What is the Trades Occupations (2023-1) Express Entry Category? 

Skilled trades occupations in Canada are occupations that require specialized knowledge, technical skills, and manual dexterity. Consequently, they are in high demand in Canada, and there is a shortage of skilled trades workers in the country.

To address this demand-supply gap, Canada introduced a new Trades occupation (2023-1) category under Express Entry nominations for PR. 

Further, IRCC will invite eligible professionals having six months or more of continuous relevant experience in the last three years, working in or outside Canada. 

List of Occupations Eligible for Trades (2023-1) Category-Based Draws

Here is a list of eligible professionals and their NOC under the Trades occupation (2023-1) Express Entry category: 

There are many benefits to working in a skilled trade in Canada, including high salaries, good job security, opportunities for advancement, and challenging and rewarding work.

To learn more about the opportunities that exist in skilled trades careers in Canada, we encourage you to contact our immigration counselors. 

Qualifying for Upcoming Category-Based Express Entry Draws

Canada has already held six category-based Express Entry draws besides this one. Consequently, candidates under the healthcare occupations (2023-1),  STEM occupations (2023-1) categories, and French-speaking categories became eligible.   

This further indicates IRCC’s plan to target more occupation-specific profiles already registered in the federal Express Entry pool in the near future. 

In order to maximize your success in qualifying for ITA, you may consider the following assessment criteria: 

1. Age: Younger candidates receive more points.
2. Work Experience: Relevant work experience in a skilled trade can earn you points.
3. Skills: Relevant education/training/skills can earn you more CRS points.
4. Language Proficiency: Working proficiency in English or French is crucial.
5. Provincial Nomination: Candidates with prior provincial nominations receive additional CRS points.
6. Arranged Employment: If you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you can earn extra CRS points.

You may also boost your chances of qualifying for immigration after consulting a licensed immigration consultant. 

Claim your free consultation from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) like CanApprove today!