IRCC conducted the first Trades Occupations draw of 2025 on September 18, 2025 and caught attention of thousands of immigration hopefuls such as international graduates in Canada working on PGWP and other work permit holders.
IRCC issued 1250 Invitations To Apply (ITA) and what shocked the applicants is Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff of 505, the highest ever in the history of trade occupations draw.
Why Did the CRS Score Jump in the Latest Trade Draw?
The sharp rise from previous trade draws — which hovered in the 380–430 range — is due to several factors:
New Occupations Added (Version 2)
IRCC expanded the eligible list for trade draws to include food service occupations such as cooks (NOC 63200) and supervisors (NOC 62020). Cooks are among the most common Express Entry candidates, often with high CRS scores due to strong language ability, Canadian work experience, and education credentials. Their inclusion drastically raised competition.
In Canada many general food sector workers transitioned themselves to cook positions so that they become eligible in trades occupations draws. Addition of hundreds of cooks in CRS pool has led to increase in CRS cut off.
Long Gap Since the Last Trade Draw
The last trade occupations draw was held in October 2024 with a cutoff of 433. Nearly a year without a draw meant thousands of trade-eligible candidates built up in the pool, many of whom were high-scoring.
Historical CRS Cutoffs for Trade Occupations
- August 2023: 388 (1,500 ITAs)
- December 2023: 425 (1,000 ITAs)
- July 2024: 436 (1,800 ITAs)
- October 2024: 433 (1,800 ITAs)
- September 2025: 505 (1,250 ITAs)
The data highlights just how significant the September 2025 jump is compared to past trade draws.
Impact on Trade Candidates in Express Entry
For candidates in skilled trades occupations, the new CRS benchmark brings challenges and opportunities:
- Increased Competition: Trades are no longer the “easier” route with lower CRS thresholds. Applicants must aim for higher profiles with strong IELTS/CELPIP/PTE or TEF/TCF scores, additional education, and Canadian work experience.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): With a 600-point CRS boost, PNPs remain the most reliable pathway for tradespeople who may not meet the higher cutoffs.
- Strategic Profile Building: Re-taking language tests, pursuing credential assessments, or securing a Canadian job offer can make the difference in hitting competitive CRS levels.
Predictions for Future Trade Occupations Draws
Looking ahead, several trends may shape the outcome of future trade draws:
- Short-Term CRS Levels (Late 2025 – Early 2026): If IRCC conducts another trade draw soon, the cutoff could remain high but potentially dip slightly, likely in the 490–500 range, as the backlog of high-scoring candidates begins to clear.
- Medium-Term CRS Trends (2026): If draws become more frequent, the CRS may stabilize between 470–490, closer to historical averages, but still significantly higher than pre-2025 levels due to the inclusion of food service occupations.
What This Means for the Future of Express Entry
The September 2025 trade draw shows how IRCC’s category-based selection strategy can significantly shift outcomes. By adding cooks and related occupations, IRCC responded to Canada’s labour market demand, but it also made trade draws far more competitive. Whether the CRS stabilizes or continues rising will depend on IRCC’s draw frequency and category adjustments.
International graduates in Canada who don’t have degree education must explore other pathways for PR as they can’t reach the recent level of CRS score cut off in trades occupations draw. As mentioned above PNP can be a good option as it adds 600 points in CRS profile.
