Date: August 5, 2025
Canada’s labour-market needs have driven a series of targeted Express Entry draws in the first half of 2025, with a special focus on healthcare professionals. Between January 1 and July 22, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted 17 major draws, resulting in 49,403 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). In this article, we recap those draws, highlight the top 10 invited healthcare occupations, review the current landscape of PR-eligible healthcare jobs, and explore key Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathways—complete with employer spotlights in British Columbia.
Express Entry Draws at a Glance (Jan–Jul 2025)
| Draw Date | Draw Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7 | General (CEC & FSWP) | 3,000 | 510 |
| Jan 21 | PNP-Only | 250 | 775 |
| Feb 4 | General (CEC & FSWP) | 3,000 | 515 |
| Feb 18 | Category-Based (Healthcare & Social Services) | 500 | 530 |
| Mar 4 | General (CEC & FSWP) | 3,000 | 518 |
| Mar 18 | PNP-Only | 300 | 780 |
| Apr 1 | General (CEC & FSWP) | 3,000 | 520 |
| Apr 15 | Category-Based (French Proficiency) | 500 | 490 |
| Apr 29 | PNP-Only | 350 | 765 |
| May 6 | General (CEC & FSWP) | 3,000 | 522 |
| May 20 | Category-Based (Healthcare & Social Services) | 500 | 527 |
| Jun 3 | General (CEC & FSWP) | 3,000 | 525 |
| Jun 17 | PNP-Only | 275 | 770 |
| Jun 24 | Category-Based (STEM Occupations) | 500 | 512 |
| Jul 7 | PNP-Only | 356 | 750 |
| Jul 8 | General (CEC) | 3,000 | 518 |
| Jul 21 | PNP-Only | 202 | 788 |
| Jul 22 | Category-Based (Healthcare & Social Services) | 4,000 | 475 |
Source: IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations (2025)
Top 10 Healthcare Occupations Invited (Jan–Jul 2025)
The healthcare-focused draws in February, May, and July reveal Canada’s most urgent staffing needs. Aggregated invite counts for key National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes are:
| NOC Code | Occupation | Approx. ITAs |
|---|---|---|
| 3012 | Registered Nurses & Registered Psychiatric Nurses | 1,150 |
| 3233 | Licensed Practical Nurses | 820 |
| 3211 | Medical Laboratory Technologists | 500 |
| 3215 | Medical Radiation Technologists | 350 |
| 3214 | Respiratory Therapists | 300 |
| 3413 | Nurse Aides, Orderlies & Patient Service Associates | 250 |
| 3131 | Pharmacists | 200 |
| 4152 | Social & Community Service Workers | 150 |
| 42202 | Early Childhood Educators & Assistants | 100 |
| 3216 | Medical Sonographers | 60 |
Insight: Nursing roles dominate, reflecting nationwide shortages. Targeted draws for allied health signal broader workforce gaps.
Available Healthcare PR Eligible Jobs as per Questjobs.
| Occupation | Total Openings | Provinces Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse & Psychiatric Nurse (NOC 3012) | 377 | ON, AB, NS, BC, SK |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (NOC 3233) | 214 | ON, AB, NS, BC, SK |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist (NOC 3211) | 100+ | ON, AB, NS, BC, SK |
| Early Childhood Educator | 400+ | ON, AB, NS, BC, SK |
Explore these roles thru this link.
PR Pathway Insights
The BC Health Authority Stream is one of the top pathways in BC with the fastest growing job listing. This pathway is employer designated with job priorities. Curerntly, BC Health Authority Stream has
500 PR eligible jobs as per Questjobs. Eight designated public health authorities eligible to sponsor under this stream are,
Fraser Health
Vancouver Coastal Health
First Nations Health Authority
Provincial Health Services Authority
Island Health
Northern Health
Providence Health Care
Interior Health
Communities with High Nomination Activity (source)
Fraser Health (covers Metro Vancouver, Surrey)
Vancouver Coastal Health (Downtown Vancouver and Islands)
Interior Health (Kelowna, Kamloops)
Island Health (Victoria, Nanaimo)
Northern Health (Prince George region)
Priority Occupations
NOC's that starts with 3
Spcial Workers (NOC 41300)
Therapists ( NOC 41302)
Social and community service (NOC 42201)
BC PNP Skilled Worker Stream is another fast growing pathways in BC. With almost 4500 PR eligible jobs currently as per Questjobs. These jobs range from operators, foreman, IT, Drywall installer, etc. This pathway is restricted to TEER 0 -3 jobs only. The BC PNP SWS is EE aligned meaning the applicant, if nominated will receive 600 CRS points in the EE account which will then lead to the IRCC ITA for permanent residency.
As per Questjobs, there is a combined 5000 PR-Eligible Jobs in BC for both streams. Search for those jobs here
Conclusion
The July 22, 2025 Express Entry draw highlights Canada’s prioritization of healthcare talent, with 4,000 ITAs issued to essential care workers. By focusing on the top-invited occupations, leveraging QuestJobs’ live job listings, and understanding PNP pathway nuances, skilled healthcare professionals can strategically plan their route to Canadian permanent residence.