Full List of Occupations For Targeted Express Entry Draws In 2025

Canada’s Express Entry System Evolves to Address Labour Shortages

Canada’s Express Entry system for 2025 has introduced significant changes to address persistent labour shortages and evolving demographic priorities. This year, the system places a strong emphasis on five key occupational categories to meet the country’s economic and social needs.

Five Core Occupational Priorities for 2025

• French-language proficiency: Candidates with strong French skills are prioritized to support Canada’s bilingual goals.
• Healthcare and social services occupations: Expanded to include social service roles, reflecting growing demand in healthcare.
• Trade occupations: Skilled trades, including green construction specialists, are in high demand.
• Education occupations: A new category addressing teacher shortages across the country.
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations: Streamlined to focus on essential agricultural roles.

Key Updates and Changes for 2025

The 2025 Express Entry system includes several notable adjustments:

• The Education Occupations category has been introduced to tackle critical teacher shortages.
• Transport Occupations are no longer prioritized, reflecting a shift toward sectors with more urgent labour needs.
• Healthcare draws now include social service occupations, broadening eligibility for community support and counselling professionals.
• The Trades category has been expanded to include more National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes, addressing shortages in skilled trades.
• The Agriculture stream has been streamlined to a single eligible NOC code, focusing on essential roles in food security and rural economic growth.

Who Qualifies for Targeted Draws?

To be eligible for these draws, candidates must meet specific criteria:

• Be eligible under Canada’s Express Entry managed programs.
• Have at least six months of continuous, full-time work experience in a relevant occupation within the past three years.
• Meet occupation-specific requirements for each draw.
• For French-language proficiency draws, achieve a minimum level of 7 in all four language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).

Why These Occupations?

Canada’s Express Entry categories are designed to address critical labour market needs and support economic growth. The in-demand sectors for 2025 include:

• Healthcare and social services: An aging population and hospital expansions have created a nationwide need for nurses, physicians, and support staff.
• Education: Teacher shortages across schools and early childhood education centres have triggered high demand for educators.
• Trades: Electricians, welders, and green construction specialists are essential for infrastructure development and maintenance.
• French-language professionals: Canada is actively growing francophone communities outside Quebec, making French proficiency a key advantage.
• Agriculture: Select agricultural roles remain critical for food security and rural economic growth.

Top In-Demand Occupations in 2025

Some of the most sought-after jobs this year include:

• Registered Nurse (NOC 31301): $78,000 median annual salary.
• Early Childhood Educator (NOC 42202): $40,000 median annual salary.
• Software Developer (NOC 21232): $90,000 median annual salary.
• Electrician (NOC 72410): $65,000 median annual salary.
• Welder (NOC 72106): $60,000 median annual salary.
• Human Resources Manager (NOC 10011): $105,000 median annual salary.
• Specialist Physician (NOC 31100): Salary varies, typically high.

CRS Score Advantages

Candidates in these priority occupations can benefit from improved Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, particularly if they have Canadian work experience, high language proficiency, or relevant education. Aligning your credentials with these streams increases your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

How to Apply

To participate in the Express Entry system:

1. Create an online profile, including details about your NOC code, work history, education, and language proficiency.
2. Enter the Express Entry pool and await selection based on the current priority categories.

With these updates, candidates in healthcare, education, skilled trades, agriculture, or those with strong French proficiency have the best opportunity to secure Express Entry invitations in 2025.

Additional Draws for STEM Occupations

While the core five categories are explicitly prioritized, additional Express Entry draws continue for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations. However, these STEM draws are less emphasized compared to the primary categories. Candidates in STEM fields may still benefit, particularly if their occupations align with Canada’s innovation and technological advancement goals.

Occupation-Specific Requirements

Beyond general eligibility, each targeted draw has specific requirements. For example:

• Healthcare and social services: Candidates must demonstrate qualifications and certifications relevant to their profession, such as nursing licenses or social work credentials.
• Education occupations: Teachers and early childhood educators may need to provide proof of certification or qualifications recognized by Canadian provinces or territories.
• Trades: Skilled trade workers often require certification or apprenticeship completion, depending on the specific trade.
• Agriculture: Applicants in agricultural roles may need to provide evidence of experience in specific farming or agri-food practices.

Provincial Demand and Rural Needs

While labour shortages exist across Canada, certain provinces and rural areas face more acute needs. For instance:

• Ontario: High demand for healthcare professionals and educators, particularly in urban centers.
• British Columbia: Growing need for skilled tradespeople to support infrastructure projects.
• Alberta: Increased demand for agricultural workers to support the province’s robust farming sector.
• Rural Areas: Healthcare and education roles are particularly critical in rural communities, where shortages are more pronounced.

Strategies to Improve CRS Scores

Candidates can enhance their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores by:

• Obtaining Canadian work experience in a priority occupation.
• Improving language proficiency, especially in French.
• Pursuing education or certifications that align with in-demand roles.
• Applying through provincial nominee programs (PNPs) that align with their occupation.

Common Questions Answered

Prospective applicants often have questions about the Express Entry system. Here are some key answers:

• How do I verify if my occupation is eligible? Use the NOC 2021 codes to cross-reference your job title and duties with the eligible occupations listed for each draw.
• Are healthcare and education jobs prioritized? Yes, these sectors are explicitly targeted, and candidates with experience in these fields can expect higher CRS scores, especially with Canadian work experience.
• Where are jobs most in demand? Demand exists across Canada, but provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, along with rural areas, have particularly high needs in healthcare, education, and skilled trades.

Conclusion

In 2025, Canada’s Express Entry system is more targeted than ever, focusing on addressing critical labour shortages in key sectors. Candidates with experience in healthcare, education, skilled trades, agriculture, or those with strong French proficiency are well-positioned to benefit from these changes. By aligning their skills and qualifications with the updated priorities, applicants can significantly improve their chances of securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.

Conclusion

In 2025, Canada’s Express Entry system is more targeted than ever, focusing on addressing critical labour shortages in key sectors. Candidates with experience in healthcare, education, skilled trades, agriculture, or those with strong French proficiency are well-positioned to benefit from these changes. By aligning their skills and qualifications with the updated priorities, applicants can significantly improve their chances of securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.

FAQ

What are the eligibility criteria for targeted Express Entry draws in 2025?

To be eligible, candidates must meet specific criteria, including eligibility under Express Entry managed programs, at least six months of continuous, full-time work experience in a relevant occupation, and occupation-specific requirements. French-language proficiency draws require a minimum level of 7 in all four language abilities on the NCLC.

What is the minimum French-language proficiency required for targeted draws?

Candidates must achieve a minimum level of 7 in all four language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French-language proficiency draws.

How can I verify if my occupation is eligible for targeted draws?

Use the NOC 2021 codes to cross-reference your job title and duties with the eligible occupations listed for each draw. This will help you determine if your occupation is prioritized in the 2025 Express Entry system.

What are the benefits of having Canadian work experience in a priority occupation?

Candidates with Canadian work experience in a priority occupation can benefit from improved Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

How do I apply for the Express Entry system?

To participate in the Express Entry system, create an online profile, including details about your NOC code, work history, education, and language proficiency. Enter the Express Entry pool and await selection based on the current priority categories.