Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent that drives economic growth

EmitenTrust.com KITCHENER, ON, Oct. 16, 2026 /CNW/ -- Building a stronger Canada means restoring confidence in a well-managed immigration system that meets our economic needs. This includes attracting and retaining skilled talent to complement the Canadian workforce and drive economic growth.

Today, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced changes to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System to better align with Canada's economic and labour market needs. Starting November 3, 2026, IRCC will award additional points to candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, including jobs such as engineers and electricians. By placing greater emphasis on factors linked to stronger economic outcomes, these changes will help Canada attract and retain the skilled workers who are best positioned to succeed in our labour market.

In addition, IRCC is cutting red tape by changing how job offers are assessed under Express Entry to make the process more efficient. As of November 3, 2026, a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) will no longer be required for a qualifying job offer to receive the new Express Entry points or to meet job offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker Programand the Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC will continue to assess job offers to confirm they are genuine and meet program requirements, with measures in place to protect against fraud. This change will make the process simpler and more efficient for candidates and employers, while maintaining a thorough assessment of job offers to protect the integrity of Canada's immigration system.

Candidates already in the Express Entry pool will have their Comprehensive Ranking System scores automatically recalculated under the new points system, which will include points for eligible Canadian work experience. However, candidates who wish to receive points for a qualifying job offer must update their profiles with the required information before November 3. The recalculation process may take up to two weeks, during which invitation rounds will be paused.

These changes build on measures taken to better align Express Entry with Canada's economic and labour market needs. In December 2025, Canada announced new immigration measures for medical doctors, including a dedicated Express Entry category for doctors with Canadian work experience. In February 2026, Canada announced new and renewed Express Entry categories to prioritize candidates with skills and experience in key sectors, including health care, skilled trades, research, transportation and education.

Together, these measures will help Express Entry better identify, attract and retain skilled talent to meet Canada's labour market needs and support long-term economic growth.

Quote

"Canada is competing globally for people with the skills we need to build a prosperous economy and stronger public services. These changes will help us identify, attract and retain the skilled newcomers who are best positioned to succeed in Canada, while making the Express Entry system more targeted and responsive to our labour market needs."

 – The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

• Express Entry is Canada's flagship application management system for those seeking to immigrate permanently through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian experience class and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.
• For Express Entry, a high-wage occupation is one with a median wage of at least 1.3 times the median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. This is based on the typical earnings of an occupation, not an individual candidate's previous or current salary. Eligible high-wage occupations include jobs in health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will maintain a list of high‑wage occupations on its website. The list will be based on wage data from the Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census of Population from the previous three years. An occupation will be assigned the highest high-wage level it met in any year during that period.
• Candidates will continue to receive points for eligible Canadian work experience and may receive additional points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.

Associated links

• High-wage occupations and how we assess them
• Backgrounder: Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations
• Report: 2026 consultations on Express Entry reforms
• Report: Express Entry and Labour Market Outcomes of Economic Immigrants

SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada