Canada is recognized for having one of the most immigrant-friendly policies in the world, ranking fourth internationally in the Migrant Integration Policy Index. But the criteria used to prioritize applicants based on age puts many at a disadvantage, even though they may have the qualifications Canada is looking for.
With immigration backlogs and several technical glitches on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online portal during the pandemic, many have become ineligible for certain programs that consider age as a criterion.
When Pedro Carvalho arrived with his wife in 2017 from Brazil, the couple were in their thirties.
But after missing the Express Entry (EE) draw this year due to a technical issue, Carvalho was skeptical of reaching the CRS score limit due to his age.
After EE draws resumed in July 2022, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was higher (above 500 points) compared to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 557 on July 6.
With high cut-off scores at the time, many like Carvalho were pessimistic and switched to another program called the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) program to ensure they could stay in Canada as residents. permanent.
“Now I’ve turned 40, so I’ve lost points. To be honest, I don’t know what else to say,” Carvalho said in an email to CTVNews.ca in August.
Rick Lamanna, director of Fragomen Canada, an immigration service provider, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview that it can be frustrating for some applicants waiting in the pool.
“They see themselves losing points every year because of these delays. They may have fewer points than a few years ago or even a year ago,” he said.
At first glance, age is not put forward as a major criterion by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
But for some programs, like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the importance of being young becomes quite explicit, especially for applicants who reach the 40-year-old threshold.
DEEPENING THE POINT SYSTEM
Programs under EE include the FSWP, Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), CEC, and part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). A candidate must be eligible for one of the above to enter the EE candidate pool.
Canadian employers generally rely on EE designed to attract highly skilled foreign workers through its Permanent Residence (PR) programs and of these the FSWP and CEC are popular – both consider age as one of the main factors of human capital. .
Lamanna says that while age can lower a CEC or FSWP candidate’s score, other factors can help raise CRS scores.
“However, he says, it is very difficult. Because applicants in their 40s lose a lot of points on age compared to people in their 20s or 30s.
CRS is a points-based system that assesses a profile to rank applicants into the Express Entry pool. To obtain an invitation to apply (ITA), the candidate must obtain a score higher than the CRS score.
The maximum CRS score is 1200 and this assessment is based on several characteristics such as level of education, English/French skills and work experience. If a candidate does not achieve the CRS score in a specific draw, they must re-upload their profile to be considered for the next pool.
LOWER POINTS FOR OLDER CANDIDATES
In addition, from the age of 40, the points decrease by 10 compared to 5 before the age of 40. While a 29-year-old may score a maximum of 110 CRS points for their age, a candidate of a similar caliber approaching their 30th birthday may see a steep drop. By the time they reach 39, only 55 points are available, and by the time they reach 45, there are no more points.
Under the FSWP, the candidate’s age counts for 12% of all selection criteria in the selection grid. The FAQ section clearly states that someone over the age of 47 will not get any points under the CRS Age factor, but may get points on other factors such as job offer, skills and abilities linguistics.
DOES CANADA NEED YOUNG WORKERS?
Immigration has played a vital role in the Canadian economy, providing a relatively young stream of workers. Over 80% of immigrants admitted in recent years are under the age of 45.
According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), young immigrants are generally much better educated than immigrants close to retirement and this is true for those entering the labor market.
With an aging Canadian-born labor force and low fertility rates (about 1.4 births per woman in 2020), the influx of immigrants has become increasingly important to Canada. The country suffers from a shortage of skilled workers despite attempts to attract immigrants. According to Statistics Canada data, immigrants represent just over a quarter of Canadian workers.
Recent census data from 2021 shows that people close to retirement outnumber those too old to enter the labor market in Canada. Moreover, rural populations are also aging faster than those in urban areas, in part due to the low influx of immigrants.
The Canadian population is experiencing a big shift as baby boomers age, according to a Statistics Canada report. This shift will have major consequences on the labor market, services for the elderly and the consumption of goods and services.
A recent Statistics Canada census report shows that young immigrants are helping to drive Canada’s population growth. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) were between 25 and 40 years old in 2021, and are already the fastest growing generation. In Canada, their number increased by 8.6% between 2016 and 2021 due to immigration, according to the Statistics Canada report.
But when it comes to the age factor in economic immigration, Canada is not alone.
Australia has age as one of the selection criteria for permanent residence and the age of the applicant must be below 45 to apply for a PR visa. Germany recently introduced its version of the “green card” (called Chancenkarte) to address the growing labor shortage in the country. Three of the four criteria for the program include that the applicant is under the age of 35.
BUT TARGETED DRAWS IN 2023 COULD CHANGE THE GAME
Lamanna says that as 2023 approaches, applicants should prepare for specified targeted draws, which are designed to address the labor shortages Canada currently faces in certain sectors.
The recently passed Bill C-19 allows invitations to candidates under Express Entry who meet regional economic needs. The Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system would allow IRCC to invite applicants based on occupation, language or education rather than the traditional CRS score.
“While the age issue is important right now, a bigger issue will be what will happen when targeted draws take place,” he said. If someone is not in the pool for that specific type of occupation, candidates may be left in limbo and these could include those with higher CRS scores.
Lamanna said provinces have more autonomy in selecting people in certain occupations to help employers in certain jurisdictions. There is a risk-reward to targeted draws. It helps address labor shortages in specific industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and construction.
“The risk is that there are people in the queue who know that at some point they will be selected as long as they reach the CRS score. But if a minister moves to a selective selection process based on profession, people may wonder when their turn will come,” Lamanna said.