Canada targets STEM candidates in July with Canada Express Entry invitations
Canada will issue its first job-specific Express Entry invitations to STEM candidates in July, it announced.
The invitations – to be made in “the week of July 5” – come after healthcare workers have received the invitation first 500 ITAs in the history of the selection system this week.
They are issued to Fast entry candidates with experience in 24 professions, including data scientists, software developers and programmers, mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries, and electrical and electronic engineers.
Applicants for STEM jobs – those in science, technology, engineering and math – are among the most in demand in Canada.
“Canada’s ability to remain at the forefront of science, technology, engineering and math depends largely on our country’s ability to attract top talent from around the world,” said Immigration Secretary Sean Fraser.
“I am pleased to announce this STEM category-based selection round… which will increase access to permanent residency for skilled workers with STEM experience.
“We look forward to welcoming these talented and innovative newcomers to our country.”
Complete list of STEM jobs to target
| Occupation | NOC code 2021 | TEER category 2021 |
| Architects | 21200 | 1 |
| Managers architecture and science | 20011 | 0 |
| Specialists in business systems | 21221 | 1 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Administrators of computer and information systems | 20012 | 0 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | 1 |
| Developers and programmers of computer systems | 21230 | 1 |
| Cyber security specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Data scientists | 21211 | 1 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | 1 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Technical managers | 20010 | 0 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Specialists in information systems | 21222 | 1 |
| Country overseer | 21203 | 1 |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 | 1 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | 1 |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | 1 |
| Scientific and applied 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 |
STEM is the second of five categories for which occupation-specific draws have been announced, covering 82 national occupation classification codes.
Healthcare workers have received 500 invitations this week and will receive another 1,500 on July 5, Fraser announced.
The other three categories are trade, transport and agriculture and agri-food.
New draws will also target candidates with strong French language skills.
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To be eligible, candidates must have at least six months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) within the last three years in one of the individual occupations, a full list of which is available later in this article.
The goal is to make Express Entry, which manages applications for federal immigration flows, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class, as well as portions of the Provincial Nominee Program, more responsive to labor market needs.
The decision to also target francophone candidates is designed to support francophone communities across Canada.
Changes to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act
Canada first announced its intention to launch profession-specific draws via Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on professions and other characteristics such as language skills, to make possible.
Most Canadian provinces have been issuing job-specific invitations for many years.
Under the amendments to the law, the Secretary of Immigration is required to consult with provinces and territories, industry members, labor unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners before announcing new categories.
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IRCC is also required to report annually to Parliament on the categories chosen and the reason or choices.
Employment and social development Canada says the number of occupations with a shortage will double between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high-skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 percent of total francophone admissions outside of Quebec, which is its own immigration intake.
