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Software engineers and designers received the highest number of Express Entry Invitations to Apply in 2018, according to the 2018 year-end report for Express Entry released by the IRCC. The report further states that Express Entry candidates who claimed their occupations to be in information technology, and business and financial services received the highest number of ITAs in 2018.
A total of 6,126 invitations were issued to software engineers and designers in the 2018. This accounted for 7% of the total invitations issued. In 2017, the number of invitations issued to software engineers and designers was 4,873. The same year, the highest number of invitations was issued to Information systems analysts and consultants, who received 5,199 invitations. Software engineers and designers were in the second position in 2017.
Most common occupations among ITAs issued
| NOC | Job Title | Number | % |
| 2173 | Software engineers and designers | 6,126 | 7% |
| 2171 | Information systems analysts and consultants | 5,429 | 6% |
| 2174 | Computer programmers and interactive media developers | 3,450 | 4% |
| 1111 | Financial auditors and accountants | 2,483 | 3% |
| 1241 | Administrative assistants | 2,335 | 3% |
| 1123 | Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations | 2,049 | 2% |
| 4011 | University professors and lecturers | 1,942 | 2% |
| 1112 | Financial and investment analysts | 1,921 | 2% |
| 1122 | Professional occupations in business management consulting | 1,915 | 2% |
| 0124 | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers | 1,775 | 2% |
| Other | 60,375 | 67% |
Source: Express Entry Year-end Report 2018
Job offer not necessary for Express Entry invitation
Another interesting fact revealed by the 2018 year-end report of the Express Entry is that only 10% of the candidates who received Invitations to Apply for permanent residence had a job offer from a Canadian employer.
Though a job offer from a Canadian employer is not a pre-requirement to apply to Express Entry, the candidates who have a job offer receive extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score points. If the candidate has a regular job offer, he/she is eligible to claim additional 50 CRS points. If the job offer is for a managerial position, candidates can claim 200 additional points.
As it is necessary for candidates to have high CRS score to receive an ITA, they can try to improving their score by obtaining a job offer from a Canadian employer. These candidates have access to the Canada job bank, which is used by Canadian employers to find skilled foreign nationals eligible for the job positions they have on offer. So it is easier for the employers to match their requirements with eligible Express Entry candidates.
However, only 10% of the Express Entry candidates who received ITAs in 2018 had a job offer. While a total of 89800 candidates were issued ITAs through Express Entry in 2018, the number of those who had a job offer was 9308.
Most common job offers received among ITAs issued
| NOC | Job Title | Number | % |
| 2173 | Software engineers and designers | 691 | 9% |
| 2174 | Computer programmers and interactive media developers | 675 | 7% |
| 2171 | Information systems analysts and consultants | 450 | 6% |
| 6322 | Cooks | 440 | 5% |
| 4011 | University professors and lecturers | 414 | 5% |
| 6311 | Food service supervisors | 412 | 5% |
| 5241 | Graphic designers and illustrators | 296 | 4% |
| 0013 | Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services | 243 | 3% |
| 0213 | Computer and information systems managers | 227 | 3% |
| 0016 | Senior managers -construction, transportation, production and utilities | 171 | 2% |
| Other | 4,101 | 51% |
Source: Express Entry Year-end Report 2018
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