On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant updates to the Express Entry system, including changes to category-based draws.
A major update is the introduction of a new category: Education, which includes five occupations. Meanwhile, the Transport category has been removed from category-based draws.
IRCC has also expanded the Healthcare category to include more social service occupations, reflecting Canada’s evolving labor needs.
The updated Express Entry categories now listed on IRCC’s website are:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social service occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
However, for 2025, IRCC has identified four priority categories for Invitations to Apply (ITAs):
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social service occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
These categories will receive priority in the Express Entry draws, helping Canada address critical workforce shortages and demographic goals.
What changes have been made to Express Entry categories?
Beyond the category changes, IRCC has revised the list of eligible occupations within existing categories adding new roles while removing others to align with shifting labor market demands, as shown below:
| Category name | Number of occupations added | Number of occupations removed |
| Healthcare and Social Services occupations | 8 | 6 |
| Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations | 6 | 19 |
| Trade occupations | 19 | 4 |
| Agriculture and Agri-food occupations | 0 | 2 |
Social and Healthcare services
The below occupations have been added to the list of Social and Healthcare services category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 | 2 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 | 2 |
| Social workers | 41300 | 1 |
The below occupations have been removed from the list of Social and Healthcare services category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Educational counsellors | 41320 | 1 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 | 1 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 | 3 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 | 2 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 | 2 |
STEM Category
The below occupations have been added to the list of STEM category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 | 2 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 | 2 |
| Geological Engineers | 21331 | 1 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 22301 | 2 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 21301 | 1 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 | 3 |
The below occupations have been removed from the list of STEM category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Architects | 21200 | 1 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 | 1 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 | 0 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | 1 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 | 1 |
| Data scientists | 21211 | 1 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | 1 |
| Engineering managers | 20010 | 0 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 | 1 |
| Land surveyors | 21203 | 1 |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 | 1 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | 1 |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | 1 |
| Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers | 41400 | 1 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 | 1 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 | 1 |
| Urban and land use planners | 21202 | 1 |
| Web designers | 21233 | 1 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 | 1 |
Trade
The following occupations have been added to the Trade category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021 | 2 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 | 3 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 | 3 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 | 3 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 | 3 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 | 2 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 | 2 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 | 2 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | 2 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | 2 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 | 2 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 | 2 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 | 2 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 | 2 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 | 0 |
| Construction managers | 70010 | 0 |
| Cooks | 63200 | 3 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 | 2 |
The below occupations have been removed from the list of Trade category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 | 3 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 | 2 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 | 2 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 | 2 |
Agri-Food and Agriculture
The below occupations have been added to the list of Agri-Food and Agriculture category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 | 2 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 | 2 |
Which occupations added to the new Education category?
The below occupations have been added to IRCC’s new Education category:
| Job Title | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | 3 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | 2 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 | 1 |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 | 1 |
How are Express Entry categories determined?
IRCC sets Express Entry categories based on Canada’s economic and demographic priorities. Occupation-based categories target areas with significant labor shortages, ensuring immigration helps fill key workforce gaps.
The French-language proficiency category remains essential for promoting bilingualism outside Quebec, supporting Canada’s Official Languages Act and facilitating the integration of French-speaking immigrants.
These changes reflect Canada’s dynamic approach to immigration, ensuring the Express Entry system continues to meet the country’s evolving needs.
