Canada is experiencing a severe labour shortage in the construction industry so, in response, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its category-based selection within the Express Entry system to emphasise certain sectors of the labour market, with Canada’s Express Entry System for construction workers becoming a key immigration pathway. This new approach prioritizes construction workers in skilled trades making it easier for qualified candidates with Canadian work experience to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence with substantially lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores required than for the General category.
The selection process now focuses on work experience in key trades
Here’s what you need to know.
Which Construction Trades Qualify for Express Entry?
Under category-based selection, workers in specific construction-related occupations now have a greater chance of being invited to apply. To qualify, candidates must have at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time experience) in one of the following trades:
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
- Floor covering installers
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- Roofers and shinglers
- Concrete finishers
- Other technical trades and related occupations
- Water well drillers
- Electrical mechanics
- Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- Bricklayers
- Cabinetmakers
- Carpenter
- Gas fitter
- Plumbers
- Industrial Electrician
- Electricians (except industrial)
- Welders and related machine operators
- Sheet metal workers
- Machinists and machining tool inspectors
- Home building and renovation managers
- Construction managers
- Cooks
- Construction estimators
That’s quite a long list! Let’s explore why this change makes immigration easier for construction workers.
Eligibility Requirements
- Work experience must have been acquired within the last three years.
- Experience can be gained in Canada or abroad.
- Applicants must meet the general Express Entry eligibility criteria, including language proficiency and educational credentials i.e., applicants have to qualify for Express Entry under, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSW), or Federal Skilled Trades Class FSTC). (The requirements to qualify for FSTC are much higher than for the specialist Construction category).
For details, visit the official IRCC page here.
Previously, many skilled tradespeople relied on FSTC or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to reach the CRS required for an ITA in Express Entry. The increased emphasis on the Construction category smooths the path by decreasing the obstacles to an ITA, making Canada’s Express Entry System for construction workers a more accessible route by reducing the need for a Red Seal or an LMIA based job offer.
Why This New System Benefits Trade Workers
For years, construction workers have struggled to qualify for Express Entry due to high CRS score cutoffs and competition from candidates in other industries. The new category-based selection process levels the playing field by prioritizing skilled trades, offering several advantages:
Lower CRS Score Requirements
Candidates applying within the construction trades category will likely require lower CRS scores compared to general Express Entry draws.
Easier Pathway for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Applicants
Workers with Canadian work experience now have a clear advantage on the path to permanent residence.
No Need for a Provincial Nomination or Job Offer
While Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) remain an option, the lower eligibility requirements and ITAs promised by category-based selection construction workers now have a realistic chance of selection through Express Entry.
Filling Canada’s Urgent Labor Shortage
Targeting skilled trades helps Canada meet rising labor demands in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.
These changes remove significant barriers for construction workers who previously struggled to compete in Express Entry draws that favored higher education and office-based occupations.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Selected
If you work in a qualifying construction trade, now is the time to optimize your Express Entry profile. Consider the following steps to increase your chances:
- Gain Canadian Work Experience – Candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) will be drawn more frequently in 2025.
- Improve Your Language Scores – A higher English proficiency score (CLB 7 or above, ideally CLB 9 and above) can significantly boost your CRS ranking.
- Monitor IRCC Draws and Updates – Immigration priorities may shift, so check with your consultant on trends in category-based selections..
- Ensure All Documents Are Ready – Work experience letters, educational credentials, and language test results must be current and accurate to prevent processing delays.
With these proactive steps, construction workers can take full advantage of this streamlined immigration pathway.
Conclusion: A New Pathway for Skilled Trade Workers
Canada’s category-based selection process in Express Entry represents a major shift in the country’s immigration system. For construction professionals, it means a more accessible, predictable, and streamlined route to permanent residency.
With lower CRS score thresholds trade workers now have an unprecedented opportunity to build their careers in Canada.
At Dr. Joe’s Immigration Consulting, we have extensive experience helping skilled workers navigate the Express Entry system. If you’re a construction professional looking to take advantage of this new pathway, we can guide you through the entire process—from profile creation to securing an ITA.
Get in touch with us today to start your journey toward permanent residence in Canada. Let’s build your future together.