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.
Most common occupations among Express Entry invitations issued, 2019
| Occupation | NOC | 2019 invitations | 2018-2019 difference | 2019 % of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software engineers and designers | 2173 | 6,529 | +403 | 7.7% |
| Information systems analysts and consultants | 2171 | 4,645 | -784 | 5.4% |
| Computer programmers and interactive media developers | 2174 | 3,819 | +369 | 4.5% |
| Financial auditors and accountants | 1111 | 2,607 | +124 | 3.1% |
| Administrative assistants | 1241 | 2,407 | +72 | 2.8% |
| Professional occupations in business management consulting | 1122 | 1,838 | -77 | 2.2% |
| Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations | 1123 | 1,808 | -241 | 2.1% |
| Administrative officers | 1221 | 1,694 | +238 | 2% |
| University professors and lecturers | 4011 | 1,684 | -258 | 2% |
| Advertising, marketing and public relations managers | 0124 | 1,588 | -187 | 1.9% |
| Financial and investment analysts | 1112 | 1,549 | -372 | 1.8% |
| Food service supervisors | 1122 | 1,544 | +109 | 1.8% |
| Accounting technicians and bookkeepers | 1311 | 1,484 | +288 | 1.7% |
| Mechanical engineers | 2132 | 1,416 | +142 | 1.7% |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 2172 | 1,312 | +274 | 1.5% |
| Other | N/A | 49,376 | N/A | 57.9% |
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.
| Occupation | NOC | Invitations issued with arranged employment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer programmers and interactive media developers | 2174 | 916 |
| Software engineers and designers | 2173 | 871 |
| Food service supervisors | 6311 | 838 |
| Cooks | 6322 | 692 |
| Information systems analysts and consultants | 2171 | 647 |
| University professors and lecturers | 4011 | 501 |
| Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services | 0013 | 364 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 0213 | 336 |
| Graphic designers and illustrators | 5241 | 331 |
| Administrative assistants | 1241 | 218 |
| Retail sales supervisors | 6211 | 209 |
| Administrative officers | 1221 | 192 |
| Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities | 0016 | 180 |
| Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services | 0015 | 157 |
| Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers | 8252 | 142 |
| Other | N/A | 4311 |
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:
The Express Entry Roadmap
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