IRCC Update: Express Entry Adds Points for High-Wage Jobs and Drops LMIA for Job Offers (2026)
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Big news for international students and graduates planning to stay in Canada: from November 3, 2026, IRCC’s new Labour Market Integration factor awards extra Express Entry CRS points for qualifying Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage occupations, such as tech, engineering, health care, and trades. In addition, qualifying job offers no longer require an LMIA for CRS points or program eligibility—giving international students and recent graduates a stronger pathway to permanent residency.
Note: Extra CRS points do not guarantee an invitation. Invitations still depend on the requirements and cut-off score for each Express Entry draw. Always check the official IRCC Express Entry pages for the latest information.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not immigration or legal advice. It is based on the official announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): Canada refocusing Express Entry on top talent that drives economic growth (October 16, 2026). Immigration rules can change, so always check the official IRCC website or speak with a licensed immigration consultant about your situation.
The Two Key Express Entry Changes
More CRS Points for High-Wage Jobs
Starting November 3, 2026, candidates earn additional CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.
No LMIA Needed for Job Offers
From the same date, a qualifying job offer no longer needs an LMIA to earn the new points or to meet job offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs.
Why This Matters for International Students
Your Canadian work experience counts for more: If you work in a high-wage occupation after graduating, for example on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you can earn extra points on top of the points you already get for your years of experience. That can boost your chances of an ITA.
Job offers are easier to use: Before, employers often needed an LMIA, a lengthy approval process, for a job offer to count. Now, if you have a genuine, qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, it can earn you points without an LMIA.
What Is a High-Wage Occupation?
An occupation qualifies as high-wage under Express Entry if its national median wage is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. IRCC assesses this using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code for the occupation, not your individual salary.
IRCC has grouped 186 eligible occupations into three wage levels, based on national wage data from 2023 to 2025. Each level determines how many additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points you can receive through the new Labour Market Integration factor.
The Three High-Wage Occupation Tiers
Occupation Tier
Number of Occupations
Median Wage Threshold
Tier 1
31
At least 2 times the average median wage
Tier 2
89
At least 1.5 times but less than 2 times the average median
wage
Tier 3
66
At least 1.3 times but less than 1.5 times the average median
wage
The tables below include all 186 eligible occupations and their corresponding NOC codes.
Tier 1: Occupations With a Median Wage of at Least 2 Times the Average Median Wage
There are 31 occupations in Tier 1. Eligible candidates may receive
70 additional CRS points for qualifying Canadian work experience
or 100 points for a qualifying job offer in one of these occupations.
NOC Code
Eligible Occupation
00011
Senior government managers and officials
00012
Senior managers - financial, communications and
other business services
00013
Senior managers - health, education, social and
community services and membership organizations
10010
Financial managers
10011
Human resources managers
10012
Purchasing managers
10020
Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers
10021
Banking, credit and other investment managers
20010
Engineering managers
20011
Architecture and science managers
20012
Computer and information systems managers
21330
Mining engineers
21332
Petroleum engineers
31100
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101
Specialists in surgery
31102
General practitioners and family physicians
31103
Veterinarians
31302
Nurse practitioners
31303
Physician assistants, midwives and allied health
professionals
40010
Government managers - health and social policy
development and program administration
40011
Government managers - economic analysis, policy
development and program administration
40012
Government managers - education policy development
and program administration
40019
Other managers in public administration
40040
Commissioned police officers and related occupations
in public protection services
40041
Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers
41100
Judges
41101
Lawyers and Quebec notaries
41200
University professors and lecturers
60010
Corporate sales managers
80010
Managers in natural resources production and fishing
90011
Utilities managers
Tier 2: Occupations With a Median Wage of at Least 1.5 Times but Less Than 2 Times the Average Median Wage
There are 89 occupations in Tier 2. Eligible candidates may receive 40 additional CRS points for qualifying Canadian work experience or 70 points for a qualifying job offer in one of these occupations.
NOC Code
Eligible Occupation
00014
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services
00015
Senior managers - construction, transportation,
production and utilities
10019
Other administrative services managers
10022
Advertising, marketing and public relations managers
10029
Other business services managers
10030
Telecommunication carriers managers
11103
Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers
11201
Professional occupations in business management consulting
21100
Physicists and astronomers
21102
Geoscientists and oceanographers
21103
Meteorologists and climatologists
21109
Other professional occupations in physical sciences
21111
Forestry professionals
21120
Public and environmental health and safety professionals
21202
Urban and land use planners
21210
Mathematicians, statistics and actuaries
21211
Data scientists
21220
Cybersecurity specialists
21221
Business systems specialists
21222
Information systems specialists
21223
Database analysts and data administrators
21230
Computer systems developers and programmers
21231
Software engineers and designers
21232
Software developers and programmers
21300
Civil engineers
21301
Mechanical engineers
21310
Electrical and electronics engineers
21311
Computer engineers (except software engineers
and designers)
21320
Chemical engineers
21321
Industrial and manufacturing engineers
21322
Metallurgical and materials engineers
21331
Geological engineers
21390
Aerospace engineers
21399
Other professional engineers
22231
Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
22312
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
30010
Managers in health care
31110
Dentists
31112
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120
Pharmacists
31200
Psychologists
31202
Physiotherapists
31203
Occupational therapists
31300
Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
32111
Dental hygienists and dental therapists
40020
Administrators - post-secondary education and
vocational training
40021
School principals and administrators of elementary
and secondary education
40030
Managers in social, community and correctional services
40042
Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces
41210
College and other vocational instructors
41220
Secondary school teachers
41221
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
41310
Police investigators and other investigative occupations
41311
Probation and parole officers
41320
Educational counsellors
41401
Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
41402
Business development officers and market researchers
and analysts
41404
Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers
41407
Program officers unique to government
42100
Police officers (except commissioned)
42101
Firefighters
50010
Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers
50011
Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting
and performing arts
51100
Librarians
70010
Construction managers
70012
Facility operation and maintenance managers
70020
Managers in transportation
70021
Postal and courier services managers
72011
Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades
and telecommunications occupations
72012
Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
72023
Supervisors, railway transport operations
72103
Boilermakers
72202
Power system electricians
72203
Electrical power line and cable workers
72301
Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72406
Elevator constructors and mechanics
72600
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
72601
Air traffic controllers and related occupations
72604
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
73310
Railway and yard locomotive engineers
82020
Supervisors, mining and quarrying
82021
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling
and services
83101
Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers
and related workers
90010
Manufacturing managers
92011
Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
and utilities
92100
Power engineers and power systems operators
93100
Central control and process operators, mineral
and metal processing
93101
Central control and process operators, petroleum,
gas and chemical processing
Tier 3: Occupations With a Median Wage of at Least 1.3 Times but Less Than 1.5 Times the Average Median Wage
There are 66 occupations in Tier 3. Eligible candidates may receive 20 additional CRS points for qualifying Canadian work experience or 50 points for a qualifying job offer in one of these occupations.
NOC Code
Eligible Occupation
00010
Legislators
11100
Financial auditors and accountants
11101
Financial and investment analysts
11102
Financial advisors
11109
Other financial officers
11200
Human resources professionals
12201
Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
12203
Assessors, business valuators and appraisers
21101
Chemists
21110
Biologists and related scientists
21112
Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists
21200
Architects
21201
Landscape architects
21203
Land surveyors
21234
Web developers and programmers
22214
Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
22232
Occupational health and safety specialists
22233
Construction inspectors
22310
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists
and technicians
22313
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics
mechanics, technicians and inspectors
31121
Dietitians and nutritionists
32102
Paramedical occupations
32103
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists
and cardiopulmonary technologists
32120
Medical laboratory technologists
32121
Medical radiation technologists
32122
Medical sonographers
41300
Social workers
41400
Natural and applied science policy researchers,
consultants and program officers
41403
Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
41405
Education policy researchers, consultants and
program officers
41409
Other professional occupations in social science
43201
Correctional service officers
43203
Border services, customs, and immigration officers
50012
Recreation, sports and fitness program and service
directors
51101
Conservators and curators
51102
Archivists
51111
Authors and writers (except technical)
51112
Technical writers
51120
Producers, directors, choreographers and related
occupations
52112
Broadcast technicians
60020
Retail and wholesale trade managers
60031
Accommodation service managers
60040
Managers in customer and personal services
72010
Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal
forming, shaping and erecting trades and related
occupations
72013
Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
72014
Contractors and supervisors, other construction
trades, installers, repairers and servicers
72020
Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
72021
Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
72102
Sheet metal workers
72105
Ironworkers
72201
Industrial electricians
72302
Gas fitters
72320
Bricklayers
72321
Insulators
72401
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72403
Railway carmen/women
72404
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
72500
Crane operators
72602
Deck officers, water transport
72603
Engineer officers, water transport
73311
Railway conductors and brakemen/women
82010
Supervisors, logging and forestry
83100
Underground production and development miners
83120
Fishing masters and officers
92010
Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
93102
Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators
See the full list on IRCC's high-wage occupations page. IRCC will update it using wage data from the previous three years.
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How the New Labour Market Integration Factor Works
The Labour Market Integration factor is a new component of the Express Entry CRS. It compares the points a candidate could receive through qualifying Canadian work experience with the points available through a qualifying job offer in an eligible high-wage occupation.
You can receive points through only one of these options. If you qualify for both, IRCC awards the higher score rather than adding the two together.
Option 1: Canadian Work Experience in a High-Wage Occupation
You still earn points for how long you have worked in Canada, up to 80 points for five years. If you have at least 12 months of eligible experience in a high-wage occupation, you also earn extra points:
Your High-Wage Experience (at least 12 months)
Extra CRS Points
In occupations at 2 times the median wage
+70
In occupations at 1.5 times the median wage or above
+40
In any high-wage occupation (1.3 times the median or above)
+20
Together, you could earn up to 150 points for Canadian work experience. Eligible experience generally needs to be in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job, gained in Canada within the last 10 years.
Option 2: A Qualifying Job Offer in a High-Wage Occupation
Job Offer Occupation Level
CRS Points
At least 2 times the median wage
100
At least 1.5 times the median wage
70
At least 1.3 times the median wage
50
A qualifying job offer must generally be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after you become a permanent resident.
Tip! Thinking about which program to study? Choosing a field that leads to a high-wage occupation, such as software development, engineering, or nursing, could help you earn these extra points after you graduate and gain Canadian work experience.
What "No LMIA" Means for Job Offers
Until now, many job offers needed a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which shows that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market. From November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer will not need an LMIA to earn the new points. A temporary public policy also removes LMIA requirements for job offers used to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs, for candidates invited from that date.
IRCC will still check that every job offer is genuine. An officer will look at whether:
The employer is actively running the business behind the offer
The offer matches the employer's real hiring needs
The employer can meet the terms of the offer
You are qualified for the job and likely to take it
The employer follows federal and provincial employment and recruitment laws
Warning! Never pay for a job offer. Offers that are not genuine can lead to refusal and a finding of misrepresentation, which can ban you from applying for years. If a job offer is withdrawn, it no longer qualifies.
What to Do Before November 3, 2026
If you are already in the Express Entry pool: Your CRS score, including points for Canadian work experience, will be recalculated automatically. You do not need to do anything for this part.
If you have a job offer: Update your Express Entry profile with all the required job offer details before November 3, 2026 to be considered for the new points.
Expect a short pause in draws: IRCC says recalculating scores may take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds will be paused during that time.
Plan Your Path to Permanent Residence
Learn how Express Entry works for international students, and how Canadian education and work experience can boost your score.
The changes take effect on November 3, 2026. Candidates with a job offer should update their profiles before that date.
How many extra points can I get for Canadian work experience?
With at least 12 months of eligible experience in a high-wage occupation, you can earn 20, 40, or 70 extra points, depending on the occupation's wage level. Combined with points for the length of your experience, you could earn up to 150 points.
How many points is a job offer worth now?
A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation is worth 50, 70, or 100 points, depending on the occupation's wage level. If you also qualify for work experience points, you receive whichever option gives you more points.
Do I still need an LMIA for my job offer?
No, not for a qualifying job offer from November 3, 2026. IRCC will still check that your job offer is genuine and meets program requirements.
Is a high-wage occupation based on my salary?
No. It is based on the median wage for your occupation (NOC code) across Canada, not on what you personally earn.
These changes reward the skills and Canadian experience that many international graduates build after their studies. If you are planning your future in Canada, choosing the right program now can set you up for in-demand careers and a stronger Express Entry profile later.
Find PGWP-Eligible Programs
Choose a program that leads to a Post-Graduation Work Permit, so you can gain the Canadian work experience Express Entry rewards.
