The Express Entry candidate pool has undergone dramatic changes since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removed Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for arranged employment. Thousands of candidates saw their scores drop by 50 or 200 points, significantly impacting their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.
This analysis explores the latest shifts in the Express Entry pool, including which score ranges were most affected and how the distribution of candidates has changed after CRS points for arranged employment were removed.
How the Express Entry Pool Changed After CRS Adjustments
The most significant drop occurred in the 501-600 CRS range, which lost 5,740 profiles between March 16 and April 14, 2025. Other notable decreases include:
- 491-500 CRS: 1,618 fewer profiles
- 481-490 CRS: 984 fewer profiles
Combined, these high-scoring ranges (481-600 CRS) saw 8,342 candidates disappear—likely due to the loss of arranged employment points.
Despite these declines, the overall Express Entry pool grew by 7,373 profiles in the same period, suggesting that the CRS change caused a major reshuffling rather than a net loss.
Key Increases in Lower CRS Ranges
While high-scoring candidates dropped, several ranges saw surges:
- 461-470 CRS: +2,157 profiles (likely redistributed from 500+ scores)
- 451-460 CRS: +1,750 profiles
- 401-450 CRS: +5,814 profiles
This indicates that many candidates who previously had +50 or +200 points for arranged employment were pushed into lower brackets.
Current Express Entry Pool Composition (April 2025)
| CRS Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 816 |
| 501-600 | 19,782 |
| 451-500 | 71,542 |
| 401-450 | 67,301 |
| 351-400 | 53,479 |
| 301-350 | 22,799 |
| 0-300 | 8,563 |
| Total | 244,282 |
Key Takeaways:
- The 501-600 range now has roughly the same number of candidates as in December 2024, despite overall pool growth.
- The 401-450 range saw the biggest influx, making it highly competitive.
- The total pool size (244,282 candidates) is the largest in over a year.
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
- High-scoring candidates (500+ CRS) face stiffer competition due to fewer ITAs targeting top ranges.
- Mid-range candidates (400-500 CRS) may benefit from more frequent general draws.
- PNP and French proficiency draws remain critical pathways for those losing arranged employment points.
Next Steps for Applicants
- Recalculate your CRS score if you lost arranged employment points.
- Explore PNP options—many provinces actively nominate candidates with lower scores.
- Improve language scores or gain Canadian experience to compensate for lost points.
For the latest Express Entry trends and strategies, check our updated CRS score calculator and ITA predictor tools.
