The Statistical Reporting Group has published April data, which includes not only the overall pool, but also breakdowns by programs, CRS scores, and key NOC codes.
1. Data Analysis
Breakdown by Express Entry programs
- Total number of candidates: 240,675
- By program:
- CEC – 159,675
- FSW – 79,965
- FST – 505
- PNP – 530
🔹 Most candidates are in the CRS range 451–475 (~39,445)
🔹 Over 100,000 candidates have CRS 376–500
🔹 The FST stream is the smallest
🔹 The majority of candidates have CRS 1–300
2. Top 20 NOC Codes
Most common occupations in the pool:
- 62020 – Food service supervisors: 13,900
- 63200 – Cooks: 8,970
- Software engineers/designers – 6,900
- Administrative assistants – 6,375
… down to 20th place, for example:
Retail and wholesale trade managers – 2,680
Special attention: NOC 63200 (Cooks)
Distribution by CRS ranges:
- 1–300: 1,185
- 301–400: 2,885
- 401–425: 1,215
- 426–450: 1,380
- 451–475: 1,320
- 476–500: 665
- 501–525: 285
- Above 526 – negligible number
🔹 Note by the author: Some candidates may classify themselves as cooks while actually performing supervisor duties in restaurants.
Only 4 of the top 20 NOC codes are included in IRCC’s category-based selection for 2025:
- 63200 (Cooks, Trades)
- 42202 (Early childhood educators, Education)
- 31301 (Registered nurses, Healthcare)
- 33102 (Nurse aides and orderlies, Healthcare)
3. Invitation Trends (Draws)
As of June 10, 2025 — 20 invitation rounds conducted:
- Francophone – 3 rounds, 18,500 ITAs
- Healthcare/social services – 2 rounds (each 500 ITAs, CRS: 510, 504)
- Education – 1 round (1,000 ITAs, CRS: 479)
- PNP – 10 rounds
- CEC – 4 rounds (CRS range 542–547, ITAs: 500 to 4,000)
⚠️ No draws for STEM, Trades, or Agri-food – despite being on the 2025 category list.
➡️ Candidates from top professions not included in these categories depend on general draws, CEC, or PNP.
➡️ The author hopes for more regular CEC draws.
4. Expanded Data
IRCC has also provided a more comprehensive NOC code database by CRS range, allowing for long-term tracking of trends.
To Sum Up:
- Most candidates are in the CRS 376–500 range, mainly under CEC/FSW
- The most popular occupations are food service supervisors and cooks
- Only 4 out of the top 20 occupations fall under IRCC’s targeted categories — the rest rely on general or provincial nominations
- Trades, STEM, and Agri-food have so far been ignored in rounds, despite being on the official category list
Recommendation:
Candidates whose occupations are not included in target categories should:
- Focus on raising their CRS score
- Consider PNP programs
It is expected that CEC draws will remain a key pathway to immigration.
