Ottawa adds express entry points for high-wage workers, drops key employer requirement

OTTAWA · The federal government will award more express entry points to permanent residency applicants in high-wage occupations starting next month. Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced the policy shift on Friday, which also temporarily removes the requirement for employers to prove they cannot find a qualified Canadian for such jobs. The new rules take effect on Nov. 3 and apply to candidates with existing Canadian work experience or a job offer in a field like engineering. A high-wage job is defined as one paying at least 1.3 times the national median wage, with more points awarded for higher pay levels.

Statistics Canada reports the median annual income in Canada was $46,300 in 2024. Diab made the announcement in Kitchener, Ont., framing it as part of a year-long effort to attract more immigrants to high-paying fields. "The government says this change is meant to simplify the application process and is part of its efforts over the past year to attract more immigrants in high-paying fields to Canada," the Immigration Department said. A temporary accompanying policy will remove the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment for jobs eligible under the new points system.

The government has previously targeted specific sectors for similar boosts, including medicine, skilled trades, transportation and research. Existing candidates in the express entry pool will have their Comprehensive Ranking System scores updated to reflect the new points for Canadian work experience and qualifying job offers. The department stated the number of points awarded will be directly correlated to the wage level of the occupation. Recalculating all scores may take up to two weeks, during which the department will pause issuing invitations to apply for permanent residency. The changes are designed to streamline the pathway for workers in higher-earning professions.

With files from The Canadian Press, BNN Bloomberg and CBC News