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

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

• As of September 9, 2024, there are 205,569 Express Entry profiles in the pool. This is an increase of 432 candidates from August 27, 2024. 
• August 2024 was a slower month compared to the record-breaking July, with 10,384 ITAs issued. September too has been slow, with just 1,911 invitations issued in the first half of the month.
• We only saw an increase of 432 candidates from August 27, 2024 to September 9, 2024. This is relatively slow growth, which may mean CRS score cut offs could decrease in the future. 

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 September 9, 2024 just before a PNP draw which saw a total of 911 profiles selected. At this time, there were 205,569 profiles in the pool. We have seen an additional 1,000 invitations issued since then but IRCC did not update the candidate pool data following this draw. 

Key insights from September 2024 CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry Pool

Overall Pool Size

• August 27, 2024: 205,137 candidates
• September 9, 2024: 205,569 candidates
• Change: A slight increase of 432 candidates.

601-1200 Range

• August 27: 127 candidates
• September 9: 937 candidates
• Change: A significant increase of 810 candidates, suggesting a recent draw or event may have boosted scores or introduced new high-ranking candidates into the pool.

501-600 Range

• August 27: 9,764 candidates
• September 9: 9,987 candidates
• Change: A small increase of 223 candidates.

451-500 Range

• August 27: 61,133 candidates
• September 9: 61,797 candidates
• Change: An increase of 664 candidates, showing ongoing growth in this competitive range, particularly in the 491-500 sub-range.

Also noteworthy is that the 491-500 range grew by 356 candidates (from 10,918 to 11,274). This shows there is high competition for

401-450 Range

• August 27: 51,863 candidates
• September 9: 52,525 candidates
• Change: An increase of 662 candidates, showing moderate growth, especially in the 441-450 range.
• 441-450: Increased by 237 candidates (from 10,259 to 10,496).

351-400 Range

• August 27: 52,363 candidates
• September 9: 51,188 candidates
• Change: A decrease of 1,175 candidates, indicating some movement out of this range, possibly due to candidates improving their scores or leaving the pool.

0-300 Range

• August 27: 5,491 candidates
• September 9: 5,427 candidates
• Change: A decrease of 64 candidates, showing slight attrition in the lowest scoring range.

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.

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