Canada’s Express Entry system has made significant changes for 2025, introducing a new category, removing an existing one, and adjusting the occupation lists to better align with the country’s labor market needs.
These updates will shape the immigration landscape for years, particularly for skilled workers seeking permanent residence.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Express Entry Changes
- New Education Category Introduced – Teachers, early childhood educators, and support staff are now prioritized.
- Transport Category Removed – No longer part of category-based draws due to shifting labor needs.
- Healthcare and Social Services Expanded – 8 new occupations added, including pharmacists and social workers, while 6 were removed.
- STEM Occupations Reduced – 19 tech-related roles, including software engineers and data scientists, have been removed.
- Trades Occupations Expanded – 19 new roles added to address growing infrastructure demands.
- Agriculture Category Strengthened – 2 new occupations added to support food production and land management.
- Prioritized Categories for 2025 – Express Entry draws will focus more on French-language proficiency, Healthcare, Trades, and Education occupations.
Prioritized Categories for 2025
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has designated the following four categories as priorities for Express Entry Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in 2025:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Service occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
Candidates in these categories will receive more frequent and targeted draws, increasing their chances of receiving an ITA.
Full Breakdown of Express Entry Draw Categories for 2025
1. Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
With an aging population and increased demand for healthcare professionals, Canada has fine-tuned this category to reflect its workforce needs.
Occupations Added (8):
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104)
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (NOC 32123)
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111)
- Other medical technologists and technicians (NOC 32129)
- Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
- Pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124)
- Social and community service workers (NOC 42201)
- Social workers (NOC 41300)
Occupations Removed (6):
- Educational counsellors (NOC 41320)
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (NOC 42203)
- Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 31204)
- Other assisting occupations in support of health services (NOC 33109)
- Other practitioners of natural healing (NOC 32209)
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (NOC 32200)
2. STEM Occupations
Surprisingly, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) category has seen a reduction, with 19 occupations removed and none added.
Occupations Removed (19):
- Architects (NOC 21200)
- Business systems specialists (NOC 21221)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 21311)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230)
- Data scientists (NOC 21211)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 21223)
- Engineering managers (NOC 20010)
- Information systems specialists (NOC 21222)
- Land surveyors (NOC 21203)
- Landscape Architects (NOC 21201)
- Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries (NOC 21210)
- Metallurgical and materials engineers (NOC 21322)
- Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers (NOC 41400)
- Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231)
- Urban and land use planners (NOC 21202)
- Web designers (NOC 21233)
- Web developers and programmers (NOC 21234)
3. Trades Occupations
Trades continue to be a focus area, with 19 new roles added to address growing infrastructure and construction demands.
Occupations Added (19):
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services (NOC 82021)
- Floor covering installers (NOC 73113)
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (NOC 73112)
- Roofers and shinglers (NOC 73110)
- Concrete finishers (NOC 73100)
- Other technical trades and related occupations (NOC 72999)
- Water well drillers (NOC 72501)
- Electrical mechanics (NOC 72422)
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401)
- Bricklayers (NOC 72320)
- Cabinetmakers (NOC 72311)
- Gas fitters (NOC 72302)
- Industrial electricians (NOC 72201)
- Sheet metal workers (NOC 72102)
- Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (NOC 72100)
- Home building and renovation managers (NOC 70011)
- Construction managers (NOC 70010)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Construction estimators (NOC 22303)
Occupations Removed (4):
- Residential and commercial installers and servicers (NOC 73200)
- Elevator constructors and mechanics (NOC 72406)
- Machine fitters (NOC 72405)
- Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers, and servicers (NOC 72014)
4. Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations
Two new occupations have been added to support Canada’s agricultural sector.
Occupations Added (2):
- Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance, and horticulture services (NOC 82031)
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)
No occupations were removed from this category.
5. Education Occupations (New Category)
With Canada facing a shortage of educators, this new category prioritizes professionals in teaching and educational support.
Occupations Added (5):
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100)
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (NOC 42203)
- Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221)
- Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220)
Conclusion
The 2025 Express Entry changes highlight Canada’s evolving immigration priorities, with a focus on bilingualism, education, healthcare, and trades. If you qualify under these updated categories, optimizing your Express Entry profile will significantly improve your chances of securing permanent residence.
