Canada is making changes to its immigration and student programs as part of proposed Express Entry reforms, where candidates with higher salaries will be prioritized for permanent residency.
The new “high-wage” occupation factor in the Comprehensive Rating System (CRS) would award extra points to applicants in jobs that earn “one point three times, one point five times and two times” the annual median wage, according to a CIC News report.
The high-wage occupation factor is a proposed change to Canada’s Express Entry system that would award extra CRS points to candidates who have Canadian work experience or a job offer in occupations that earn above-average wages.
In this system, “high wage” is not based on an individual’s salary, but on the typical earnings of the occupation itself. This means that all workers in the same job category are treated equally, regardless of personal wage differences caused by factors such as location or gender. Immigration authorities say this helps ensure fairness and avoid assessment irregularities, the report said.
IRCC proposes three levels based on salary:
- Twice the national median wage.
- One and a half times the national median wage.
- One point, three times the national median wage.
Overall, the goal is to prioritize qualified workers in better-paid and in-demand occupations for choosing permanent residence.
IRCC focuses on high paying occupations?
IRCC focuses on high-wage occupations because its data suggest that pre-landing income and job type strongly influence the economic success of immigrants in Canada.
Express Entry candidates who had higher earnings before arriving in Canada were more likely to find employment quickly and continue to earn higher wages after landing, according to information the department shared with immigration lawyers. In other words, stronger attachment to the labor market before immigration translates into better outcomes in Canada.
IRCC also highlighted a specific example: immigrants who came with a job offer in a senior management position earned about three times more per week than those who came without any job offer. This gap is used to show how pre-arranged, better-paid employment can significantly improve economic integration.
Based on these findings, IRCC is moving to favor occupations with higher wage levels because they are statistically associated with stronger job prospects, higher earnings and faster economic settlement for newcomers.
Canada remains one of the most popular destinations for Indian students. According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) data, more than 427,085 Indian students studied in Canada in 2025.
As a result, CRS scores have become more competitive.
Many Indian applicants adapt by working to improve their language test scores, gather more work experience and ensure their documents are fully compliant with immigration requirements.
