The first ever category based Express Entry draw for healthcare workers in Canada was held in which IRCC invited 500 healthcare workers.
A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476 was required by the candidates. Since the six new categories were announced on May 31, this is the very first category-based selection draw. A second round will take place on July 5, in which 1500 workers will be invited to apply.
Another draw is also expected to occur in the same week in which eligible candidates from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions are to be invited.
Healthcare Occupations and Category-Based Selection
New category-based selection for Express Entry has been finalized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as announced by the department on May 31.
Healthcare occupations make up the largest number of eligible occupations among the six new categories, 35 in total which are mentioned below:
- Chiropractors
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- Dentists
- Education Counsellors
- Dieticians and Nutritionists
- Licensed practical nurses
- Kinesiologists
- Instructors of persons with disabilities
- Medical laboratory technologists
- Medical sonographers
- Massage therapists
- Medical laboratory assistants
- Patient service associates
- Nurse practitioners
- Optometrists
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- Medical radiation technologists
- Occupational therapists
- Veterinarians
- Traditional Chinese medical practitioners
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Psychologists
- Physiotherapists
- Registered psychiatric nurses
- Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Specialists in surgery
- Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
- Respiratory therapists
- Pharmacy technical assistants
- Paramedical occupations
- Physician assistants and midwives
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing Clinical perfusionists
Shortage of HealthCare Workers in Canada
The HealthCare System in Canada is one of the best and it also has millions of vacancies. In Canada, healthcare is one of the sectors experiencing critical worker shortages. Canada is one of the countries which has a low birth rate and an aging population on a global level.
For example, it is estimated that within the next seven years, nine million Canadians will reach retirement age, i.e. 65. An older population has created more demand for the healthcare system. To make up for the shortfall of younger Canadians and fill these critical positions, Canada needs immigrants.
As of March 2023, there were 144,500 vacant positions within the healthcare and social assistance sector as shown by recent job vacancy data from Statistics Canada which was 17.7% of all unfilled positions.
Through the targeted streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), several provinces and territories already hold draws for healthcare professionals. For example, under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, Alberta recently launched a healthcare pathway, healthcare professionals were invited by British Columbia in nearly every BCPNP draw, and 318 foreign workers were recently invited by Ontario in a healthcare occupation.
Due to changes made to the Immigration and Refugees Act in June 2022, category-based selection draws were anticipated to begin this year. Economic immigrants may now be selected on the basis of key attributes like supporting the economic priorities of Canada or promotion of the French-speaking immigration to communities outside Quebec by the immigration minister of Canada.
Following discussions with provincial and territorial governments as well as other stakeholders who were able to help IRCC understand where the biggest labour force gaps exist, the new categories were selected. Under the occupation-specific categories, at least 6 months of continuous work experience in one of the listed occupations are required for eligible candidates, which is obtained within the past 3 years.
Consult With Us if you are unaware of the new category-based selection draws in Express Entry Canada, Oasis Visas is here to sort out all your confusion.
