Editors Pick

Highlights: Significant drop in CRS scores after the removal of bonus points for arranged employment

• Express Entry candidate pool has witnessed significant changes after the removal of the CRS score.
• The Express Entry candidate pool attracted 7,373 candidate profiles due to the removal of arranged employment.
• Candidates witnessed the most significant changes in scores among Express Entry occurred within the 501-600 CRS score range.
• There was an addition of 2,157 profiles within the score range between 461 and 470 CRS points.
   

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Major changes introduced to Express Entry pool

The removal of arranged employment points under the Comprehensive Ranking system has seen significant changes in the Express Entry candidate pool. Around thousands of candidates in the Express Entry pool have noticed that their CRS scores dropped by 50 or 200 points, with a chance of receiving an ITA to apply for Canada Permanent Residence (PR).
 

The most significant score change among Express Entry candidates occurred within the 501-600 CRS score range, which saw a drastic decrease of 5,740 profiles. A similar reduction in profile can be observed within score ranges between:
 

• 491 and 500 CRS points, which saw a decline of 1,618 profile
• 481 and 490 CRS points witnessed a drop of 984 profile
   

These three score ranges collectively witnessed a decrease of 8,347 profiles between March 16 and April 14, 2025. With the removal of arranged employment points, if the profiles have not expired, they will be distributed to a lower score range within the candidate pool.
 

The Express Entry candidate pool grew by a total of 7,373 candidate profiles within the same time frame despite the radical decrease, which indicated larger changes within the pool composition. The largest among these was the addition of 2,157 profiles within the score range between 461 and 471 CRS points.
 

Candidates who have arranged employment will receive an additional 50 CRS points. Below The table will mention the changes in the Express Entry profile between March 16 and April 14, 2025, for all score ranges:

Current composition of scores within the Express Entry pool following the CRS points change

The following table details the current composition of the Express Entry Candidate pool as of April 14, 2025:

In 2024-2025, the Express Entry pool has witnessed an increase in candidates. With the removal of CRS points for arranged employment, it means the following CRS score ranges will now have roughly the same number of candidate profiles as they did in December of 2024, which are:

• 501-600
• 490-500
• 481-490
   

This increase of 25,792 candidate profiles was despite this score from December 2024 to April 2025.|
 

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Highlights: Manitoba PNP introduced special work permit for eligible candidates

• Manitoba PNP will issue exceptional Manitoba-specific work permits for up to two years.
• Applicants must meet general and federal requirements to qualify for this special work permit.
• Manitoba will begin accepting applications for these work permits starting April 22, 2025.
• Eligible candidates can apply online for special permits till December 31, 2025.
   

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Eligibility Criteria to apply for exceptional Manitoba-specific work permits

To qualify for an exceptional Manitoba-specific work permit, an applicant must:
 

• Holder of a work permit that will expire within 45 days or holder of a work permit that expired in 2024 or 2025
• Continuously residing in Manitoba since January 15, 2025
• A valid MPNP Express Entry Interest Profile and still have it since January 15, 2025
• Have a letter of employment from their current employer in Manitoba
   

Manitoba PNP will begin to accept applications for work permits from April 22, 2025. If an MPNP candidate qualifies, they can apply online to the MPNP for a support letter, which they can use in their work permit application to IRCC. These applications for work permits will be open until December 31, 2025. Applicants who have already received a letter of Advice to apply for the Manitoba PNP are not eligible for the special work permit. IRCC’s Temporary public policy will issue these work permits to facilitate work permits for prospective Provincial Nominee candidates.
 

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Federal requirements to apply for special Manitoba-specific work permits

To apply for exceptional Manitoba-specific work permits, an applicant must fulfill the Federal requirements such as:
 

• Valid work permit
• Holder of a work permit since May 7, 2024
• Maintained works permit status since May 7, 2024, and submitted a work permit extension application permit before this date
   

Documentation required for special Manitoba-specific work permits

Applicants who have fulfilled the requirements can apply for

• Support letter
• Copy of your Expression of Interest Profile
• Letter of employment from current employer
• Current work permit
• Proof of authorization to work
• Holder of valid work permit since May 7, 2024
   

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Highlights: Canadian employment increased by 91,000 as of December 2024

• As of December 2024, employment rose to 91,000 in Canada, reflecting a 0.4 % growth rate.
• Employment arose among four Canadian sectors in December 2024.
• Canadian provinces that witnessed the employment were Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.
• Full-time employment in Canada rose by 56,000, a 0.3% increase compared to 2023.
   

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Employment in Canada rose in December 2024

Canada witnessed an employment rise in December 2024 by 91,000, mostly in full-time work than in November (51,000). In 2024, Canada had more than 413,000 (+2.0%) people working in December compared with 12 months earlier. The public sector employment rate rose by 40,000 in December. The public sector employment rose by 156,000, driven by gains in the public sector components of educational services, health care, and social assistance.
 

Meanwhile, private sector employment changed slightly in December (+27,000; +0.2%) and was up 191,000 (+1.4%) year-over-year.  
 

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Employment increased among core-aged men and people aged 55 and older

The employment increased by 30,000 in December 2024, building on an increase of 45,000 in November.

Below is the table of employment increases in December:

Employment gains across several industries in December 2024

Several sectors in Canada saw an increase across several sectors in December 2024. On a year-over-year basis, employment in different industries was up by 85,000 (+6.2%).
 

Below is the table of employment gain across several industries:

Employment increased among different Canadian provinces

Canadian provinces witness an employment increase in different provinces by 91,000. Below are different employment increase rates in other Canadian provinces:

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Highlights: Canada expanded the field of study under the Post Graduate Work Visa in 2025    

• IRCC expanded more fields of study under the Post Graduate Work Visa in 2025.
• In October 2024, IRCC divided the field of study divided into five broad categories
• The new field added to this list of studies by IRCC is 'Education.'
• The PGWP-eligible programs are classified by the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes.
   

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IRCC expanded the list of the field of study under the Post Graduate Work Visa   

These fields are divided into six categories, which reflect the occupation-based Express Entry categories:
 

• Agriculture and agri-food;
• Healthcare;
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM);
• Trade; and
• Transport
• Education
   

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Classification of Instructional Programs for PGWP eligible programs under Education

PGWP-eligible programs are grouped and listed under the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP). Below is the table that represents the new program eligible in the PGWP education field program:

Field of study requirement for PGWPs

PGWP is an Open work permit designed for foreign nationals who have completed an eligible program of study at a DLI to work for most employers in most industries in Canada. The duration of the PGWP depends on the length of the completed study program and varies from eight to three months.
 

IRCC mandates that international students graduate from a field of study linked to occupations in long-term shortage to be eligible for PGWPs. These fields of study requirements are not mandatory for Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral graduates. They apply to international students graduating from college programs and university vocational programs.
 

International students who applied for study permits before November 1, 2024, are not required to meet the Field of Study requirement. Candidates who applied after November 1, 2024, must fulfill the Field of Study requirement.
 

IRCC also introduced a language requirement for PGWP eligibility, which differs depending on international graduates' study level. International student graduates can gain work experience, which can serve as an excellent opportunity to apply for Canada PR. Work experience in Canada can lead to being eligible for CEC and can increase CRS scores.

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Highlights: IRCC Announces New rules for International students starting 2025

• IRCC released new rules for international students in Canada looking to switch DLIs.
• International students can now start studying before the issuance of a new study permit upon meeting the eligibility criteria.
• Students would be required to meet additional PGWP criteria based on when they applied for a new permit and their level of study.
• The new measures taken by the IRCC will be effective starting in 2025.

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New Regulations for International Students Switching DLIs in 2025

IRCC announced changes to international students looking to change their DLIs (Designated Learning Institutions). International students in Canada who want to switch schools for the winter/spring semesters in 2025. As per the latest changes, students can now start studying in their choice of DLIs before the issuance of a new study permit.

Before the new study permit is issued, students must meet certain conditions to start studying in their new DLI schools.

The criteria to be fulfilled by students who are switching schools in Canada are as follows:

• Have acceptance into the new DLI for the 2025 intake of winter/spring semesters
• Have applied for a new permit via the study permit application
• Hold a valid study permit that does not include the name of the new Canadian DLI
• Must continue to fulfill the other study permit eligibility requirements

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PGWP Requirements for Students Switching Schools 

International students who have applied for a new permit before November 1, 2024, are not required to fulfill the latest PGWP requirements.

However, students who applied for a new permit post-November 1, 2024, must fulfill the below requirements:

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