Express Entry introduced by the IRCC on January 1, 2015 manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs which includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and certain parts of the Provincial Nominee Program.
By the end of July 2015, IRCC conducted 13 draws, issuing 15,980 invitations to apply for permanent residence. Some highlights:
- IRCC received profiles from 112,701 potential candidates between January 1 and July 6, 2015.
- A total of 48,723 were not eligible for the pool as they did not meet the minimum criteria for permanent residence based on the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades or Provincial Nominee Program.
- Out of the 12,928 invitations issued for the period covered by the report, 70% had qualifying scores over 600 points – meaning those candidates had qualifying job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) Certificate.
- The vast majority of candidates (85%) invited to apply through Express Entry were already in Canada.
- Despite issuing 12,928 invitations, only 7,528 completed applications have been received. Of these completed applications, only 844 permanent resident visas have been issued, and fewer than half of these, 411, have landed in Canada as Permanent Residents.
- There were 41,218 candidates in the Express Entry pool as of July 6, 2015.
- Of the candidates still in the pool on July 6, 2015, 87% were clustered around the 300-450 comprehensive ranking score. These candidates do not have LMIA or PNP nominations and are awaiting IRCC to lower their scores for invitations.
