October 2026

IRCC published a news release on October 16, 2026, announcing two major changes to the Express Entry comprehensive ranking system (CRS) starting November 3, 2026.

 

IRCC will award additional points to candidates with eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. The new points will be called the Labour Market Integration Factor. Some of the occupations currently listed include firefighters; some careers in correctional services or social services; veterinarians; teachers and professors; various tradespersons; and management in education, social and community services. The intention is to place greater emphasis on factors linked to stronger economic outcomes, so Canada can attract and retain skilled workers best positioned to succeed in the Canadian labour market.

 

Also beginning November 3, 2026, an LMIA will not be required for a qualifying job offer to be eligible for the new Express Entry points or to meet job offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. This change simplifies the process for candidates and employers. IRCC will continue to assess job offers to confirm whether they are genuine and meet program requirements. Some factors IRCC consider are discussed below.

 

Candidates already in the Express Entry pool will have their scores automatically recalculated under the new points system. However, candidates who want points for a qualifying job offer must update their profiles with the required information before November 3. See here for how to update your profile if you have a job offer without an LMIA.

 

IRCC states that the recalculation process will likely take up to two weeks, during which invitation rounds will be paused. How the invitations will work remains the same: dependent on the draw requirements and the CRS cut-off score for each invitation round.

 

Candidates may qualify for points based on either:

• eligible Canadian work experience based on its duration, with additional points where the experience is in a high-wage occupation

OR

• a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.

If a candidate qualifies for both, they will receive whichever option provides more points. The points for Canadian work experience and a job offer will not be combined.

 

The maximum number of points available under the labour market integration factor is:

• 150 points: candidates without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner
• 140 points: candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner

 

What is a High-Wage Occupation?

For the purpose of the Express Entry system, a high-wage occupation is one where the median wage of all people in Canada performing that job (under the same National Occupational Classification code) is at least 1.3 times higher than the average median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. It is not determined by any individual’s specific position or salary (past or current).

High-wage occupations are grouped into 3 levels using NOC codes where the median wage is at least:

• twice the average median wage
• 5 times, but less than twice, the average median wage
• 3 times, but less than 1.5 times, the average median wage

 

High-Wage Occupation Points

With no (or less than 12 months) Canadian work experience in a high-wage position, and only a qualifying job offer, candidates will receive a maximum of 100 points.

Calculating points for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation:

• 100 points: At least 2 times the median wage
• 70 points: At least 1.5 times the median wage
• 50 points: At least 1.3 times the median wage

 

A qualifying job offer must generally be: (1) full-time, (2) continuous work in Canada, (3) for at least one year after the candidate becomes a permanent resident. For certain occupations, other specific requirements must be met.

Regardless, an IRCC officer will determine whether the qualifying job offer is genuine. Factors include whether:

• The employer is actively engaged in the business for which the offer is being made
• The offer reflects the employer’s reasonable employment needs
• the employer can reasonably meet the terms of the offer
• the candidate is qualified and able to perform the work and is likely to accept and carry out the employment
• the employer has complied with applicable federal and provincial employment and recruitment laws

A job offer that is revoked will no longer qualify.

 

Candidates with 12 months or more of Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation have a chance at reaching the 140/150 maximum points. These points are not per position. If you have more than 12 months in more than one high-wage position, you would still have the same maximum number of points.

Calculating points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation:

• 70 points: at least 12 months in one or more occupations at 2 times the median
• 40 points: If not eligible for 70 points, at least 12 months combined in occupations at 1.5 times the median or above
• 20 points: If not eligible for 40 or 70 points, at least 12 months combined across eligible high-wage occupations (1.3 times the median or above)

The points combine with the CRS score based on the duration of eligible Canadian work experience (maximum of 80 points for 5 years), potentially bringing candidates up to 140/150 points for Canadian work experience.

 

Score options	Points with a spouse or common-law partner	Points without a spouse or common-law partner
Canadian work experience	140 points: 70 for work-length 70 for high-wage experience	150 points: 80 for work-length 70 for high-wage experience
Qualifying job offer	100 points	100 points