On February 27, 2025, the Government of Canada made significant updates to the targeted occupation categories within the Express Entry system. This marks the most substantial revision in recent years, dramatically shifting focus in healthcare, STEM, trades, education, and transport. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the added and removed occupations and what these changes mean for candidates.
Healthcare Category Changes
Total number of targeted healthcare NOCs increased from 35 to 37.
Removed:
- 41320 – Education counsellors
- 42203 – Instructors of persons with disabilities
- 31204 – Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
- 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
Added:
- 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
- 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
- 32124 – Pharmacy technicians
- 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
- 31120 – Pharmacists
- 42201 – Social and community service workers
- 41300 – Social workers
STEM Category Changes
Total number of targeted STEM occupations reduced from 24 to 11. The focus has shifted from IT and planning to engineering and applied technologies.
Removed (18 NOCs):
- 21200 – Architects
- 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
- 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
- 21211 – Data scientists
- 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
- 20010 – Engineering managers
- 21222 – Information systems specialists
- 21203 – Land surveyors
- 21201 – Landscape architects
- 21210 – Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries
- 21322 – Metallurgical and materials engineers
- 41400 – Science policy researchers, consultants, and officers
- 21232 – Software developers and programmers
- 21231 – Software engineers and designers
- 21202 – Urban and land use planners
- 21233 – Web designers
- 21234 – Web developers and programmers
Added (6 NOCs):
- 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 21331 – Geological engineers
- 63100 – Insurance agents and brokers
- 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- 21301 – Mechanical engineers
Trades Category Changes
The number of trades-related targeted occupations grew from 10 to 25. The shift is clearly toward construction, equipment mechanics, and housing-related trades.
Removed:
- 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
- 72405 – Machine fitters
- 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other trades and services
Added (19 NOCs):
- 82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling
- 73113 – Floor covering installers
- 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 73100 – Concrete finishers
- 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
- 72501 – Water well drillers
- 72422 – Electrical mechanics
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72320 – Bricklayers
- 72311 – Cabinetmakers
- 72302 – Gas fitters
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72102 – Sheet metal workers
- 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- 70011 – Home building and renovation managers
- 70010 – Construction managers
- 63200 – Cooks
- 22303 – Construction estimators
Transport Category Changes
Entirely removed from the targeted list, including the previously prioritized NOC for transport truck drivers.
Removed:
- 73300 – Transport truck drivers
- 70020 – Transportation managers
- 72600–72604 – All air, marine, and railway control/operations positions
- 72403, 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and railway car inspectors
- 93200 – Aircraft assemblers and inspectors
Agriculture and Agri-food Category Changes
Now only one NOC remains targeted (industrial butchers).
Removed:
- 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- 82031 – Landscaping and grounds maintenance supervisors
New Category: Education
A newly introduced category focusing on five education-related occupations:
Added (5 NOCs):
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 42203 – Instructors of persons with disabilities
- 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- 41220 – Secondary school teachers
- 41221 – Elementary and kindergarten teachers
Francophone Category
No changes announced.
Conclusion
The February 2025 Express Entry category update marks a decisive shift in Canada’s immigration strategy. While many IT, urban planning, and transport occupations were removed from the priority list, Canada is now clearly focused on skilled trades, construction, healthcare, and education. Candidates should carefully review whether their occupation remains eligible for category-based draws and adjust their Express Entry profile and long-term immigration plans accordingly. For many in engineering, healthcare, or trades — now is the time to act.
