• Type of draw: Category-based targeting Trade occupations
• Invites issued: 1,800
• CRS score: 436
• Tie-breaking rule: July 16, 2023
• Prediction for the next draw: The week of 15 July 2024

This is the first Trades Occupation Express Entry draw for 2024, and the second draw so far in July. Given the tie-breaking rule so far in the past, it seems likely that there are many trades applicants in the EE pool with this CRS score. So the tie-breaking rule may cause some heartache for applicants who entered the pool after July 16 last year.

From May 1, 2024, we have seen 5 draws, including two in May and just one in June. Of those 5 draws, 3 were Provincial Nominee Program rounds and one was a Canadian Experience Class round. This is the first category-based draw we have seen since April 2024, which is surprising given that earlier this year, an IRCC internal memo suggested that it was going to prioritize category-based draws this year.

Encouragingly, the first draw this week took place on a Tuesday less than two weeks from the previous round, which was a PNP draw on Wednesday June 19. We hope this signals a move back to a regular schedule, with draws taking place every second Tuesday. However, it is too early to determine if this trend will re-emerge in 2024.

For those of you awaiting a general Express Entry draw, a provincial nomination comes with 600 additional points. The result in this week’s PNP round is not a sign that General Express Entry draws will have scores above 600 in the future.