The Current State of the Express Entry Pool: An In-Depth Analysis

Key Takeaways: a Snapshot of Active Profiles in the Pool.

• There are 215, 735 Express Entry profiles in the pool on July 17, 2024, almost 7,000 fewer than the number of profiles published on July 2.
• Since the update on July 2, 19,161 invitations have been issued across 7 draws, the largest number of invites and ITA’s of any month in 2024.
• Even with a record-breaking July, more people are entering the pool than leaving the pool, showing high competition.

What is the Express Entry pool?

The Express Entry pool represents all candidates with an active Express Entry profile. The number of profiles in the pool changes daily as draws take place and as new applicants submit their profile with others leaving due to expiry or a change in eligibility.

How Many Express Entry Profiles Are Currently in the Pool?

The last IRCC update on the number of profiles in the pool was July 17th, 2024 just before 2 Express Entry draw which saw a total of 8,200 profiles selected. At this time, there were 215,735 profiles in the pool. This was a decrease of almost 7,000 profiles since the last update. But given the number of ITA’s issued, we can see that more people are entering the pool than leaving the pool. 

There are a total of 4,646 fewer profiles with a CRS of between 451 and 500. This could be a direct result of the 4 category- based draws we saw in July, all with a CRS cut-off of below 450.

There are also now only 184 profiles in the pool scoring over 600. This is likely a result of the PNP and CEC-focused draws we have seen recently.

The first half of 2024 saw fewer ITAs issued than expected, with only 43,454 candidates receiving an ITA, 28% less than the first half of 2023. As a result, we expect IRCC to issue close to 70,000 ITA’s in the second half of 2024 to make up for the shortfall and sluggish start to 2024. Given the level of draw activity in July to date, IRCC is well underway to issuing 70,000 more ITA’s in 2024.

We don’t expect the high draw volume to continue though. Moving forward, we will likely see 10,000 ITA’s issued each month, with around 3,000 of those going to French candidates each month.

How Does Your CRS Score Compare?

Determining how your CRS score compares to others in the pool is a necessary component to a successful immigration strategy. If you have a strong CRS score in comparison to others in the pool, your chances of receiving an ITA in an upcoming Express Entry draw are high therefore you may just need to wait for the next draw. On the other hand, you may determine that your CRS is not competitive enough, forcing you to look at ways to increase your score or explore Express Entry alternatives. 

There is a current breakdown of the CRS score range and the number of candidates in the pool. 

Is Your CRS Score Competitive? 

Your competitiveness within the Express Entry pool is based on your CRS score. 

Once you have submitted your Express Entry profile, you will receive your CRS score. Bear in mind that this score may change due to factors like age therefore it is important to keep a note of your CRS and competitiveness. 

If your projected CRS score is less than 300

You should consider alternative ways to move to Canada. Express Entry might not be for you, because it’s going to be tough — though not impossible — to get enough points to secure an invitation to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. If you have a CRS score of less than 300, chances are you will need to do many things to boost your chances of receiving an ITA. Follow our ways to increase your CRS score guide for pointers. 

If your projected CRS score is between 300 and 400

A CRS score in this range is not very competitive, however, there are ways to boost your points total. To get from the 300’s into the competitive range would probably require you to secure a provincial nomination, get a job offer and/ or show both French and English language ability.

If you qualify for the French Category Based Draws, a CRS score above 360 may be all that is needed. If you do not possess any French language ability, consider taking this up. In a year, you may have enough proficiency to claim French points and an ITA in the French draws. 

If your projected CRS score is between 400 and 500

This score may be competitive, depending on the trend in recent draws (the lowest cut-off score ever for an all-program draw was 413 points however recent trends are more around the 540 mark). Candidates in this range can shoot up the rankings with some seemingly minor improvements that can have a big effect, especially when it comes to proving language ability. There may also be additional PNP options for candidates in this range.

If your projected CRS score is between 500 and 550

This is a competitive score, with a decent chance of being sufficient to receive an ITA, especially if you are eligible for a Category-Based Draw. Candidates should still explore any opportunities to increase their scores to make their profile as competitive as possible.

If your projected CRS score is above 550

This is a super competitive CRS score and will likely be sufficient to receive an ITA in an upcoming draw.

Staying informed about immigration in Canada can help you prepare for your Express Entry journey. A free Moving2Canada account can help. You’ll receive free access to our newsletters, immigration checklists, and a host of other settlement resources — all tailored to your immigration journey. Sign up here.