Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently released a report showing which occupations have the highest number of applicants in the Express Entry system for permanent residence.
According to the new data, occupations such as food service supervisors and cooks are currently among the most common in the Express Entry pool. This means thousands of people in these roles are waiting for an invitation. Many international students, after finishing their studies, take on these jobs because they are more accessible.
However, here’s the challenge: when too many people apply under the same occupation—especially if that occupation is not a high priority for immigration, it lowers each individual’s chances of being selected. Choosing a job that is common but low-priority can make the path to permanent residence longer and more difficult.
By contrast, IT-related occupations such as programming, data analysis, and network management remain in high demand and are more likely to receive invitations.
Another interesting and controversial point is that the occupation of “cook” is currently classified under the skilled trades category. This category was originally meant for jobs like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and other technical trades. Now that a large number of cooks are included in this group, the minimum CRS score required for selection in trades draws has increased significantly making it harder for other skilled trades with lower scores to qualify.
Overall, this data shows that choosing a job in Canada isn’t just about quick employment or income, it can have a major impact on your long-term immigration outcome. If you plan to apply for permanent residence after studying or working in Canada, it’s important to choose your career path strategically and in line with real labour market needs.
