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Much like preceding years, Express Entry candidates in tech and IT occupations were invited to apply for immigration to Canada in huge numbers in 2019, with software engineers and designers leading the way.

In fact, tech occupations made up the top three occupations by number of candidates invited to apply. Information systems analysts and consultants, as well as computer programmers and interactive media developers, ensured a clean sweep of the podium for tech and IT professionals.

Nearly 15,000 candidates in these three occupations alone were invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence in 2019, nearly exactly the same total number invited in 2018 for these occupations.

Many of the other occupations in the overall list of most common occupations among invited candidates were in business and finance.

One thing to note from the latest Express Entry occupations data is that the top 15 most common occupations together represented only 42 percent of the total number of invitations issued, meaning that most Express Entry invitations went to candidates in other skilled occupations in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

So if you are an agricultural worker, an editor, a lawyer, teacher, health care worker or any other skilled occupation type, don’t worry! Canada has been inviting plenty of these types of workers as well.

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Most common occupations among Express Entry invitations issued, 2019

OccupationNOC2019 invitations2018-2019 difference2019 % of total
Software engineers and designers21736,529+4037.7%
Information systems analysts and consultants21714,645-7845.4%
Computer programmers and interactive media developers21743,819+3694.5%
Financial auditors and accountants11112,607+1243.1%
Administrative assistants12412,407+722.8%
Professional occupations in business management
consulting
11221,838-772.2%
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations11231,808-2412.1%
Administrative officers12211,694+2382%
University professors and lecturers40111,684-2582%
Advertising, marketing and public relations managers01241,588-1871.9%
Financial and investment analysts11121,549-3721.8%
Food service supervisors11221,544+1091.8%
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers13111,484+2881.7%
Mechanical engineers21321,416+1421.7%
Database analysts and data administrators21721,312+2741.5%
OtherN/A49,376N/A57.9%

Arranged employment

Though the total number of candidates invited to apply through Express Entry went down slightly in 2019 relative to 2018 — from nearly 90,000 to just over 85,000 — the number of candidates invited who had been awarded points for arranged employment went up, from 9,308 in 2018 to 10,905 in 2019, meaning around one-in-eight invited candidates had arranged employment.

Arranged employment means having a valid job offer, which results in either 50 or 200 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points being added to a candidate’s total CRS score. The number of points received depends on the skill level of the occupation, with Senior Managerial positions receiving 200 points and all other skilled positions receiving 50 points.

OccupationNOCInvitations issued with arranged employment
Computer programmers and interactive
media developers
2174916
Software engineers and designers2173871
Food service supervisors6311838
Cooks6322692
Information systems analysts and consultants2171647
University professors and lecturers4011501
Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services0013364
Computer and information systems managers0213336
Graphic designers and illustrators5241331
Administrative assistants1241218
Retail sales supervisors6211209
Administrative officers1221192
Senior managers - construction,
transportation, production and utilities
0016180
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and
other services
0015157
Agricultural service contractors, farm
supervisors and specialized livestock workers
8252142
OtherN/A4311

The information in this article is from the year-end 2019 Express Entry report, which was published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in June, 2020.

See our other summaries from the 2019 Express Entry Year-End Report, including:

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    Led by Anthony Doherty (RCIC #510956) and Cassandra Fultz (#514356), the Doherty Fultz team uses their 40+ years of experience to empower you towards settling in Canada.

  • Perez McKenzie Immigration

    Led by Jenny Perez (RCIC #423103), Perez McKenzie Immigration is a Canadian immigration consultancy based in British Columbia, with offices in Vancouver and Whistler.

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