What's changed

The change adds a labour market integration factor to the CRS, worth up to 150 points for a candidate without an accompanying spouse or partner and 140 with one. Candidates receive points for either high-wage Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer, whichever scores higher, not both.

An occupation counts as high-wage when its median wage is at least 1.3 times the median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. The test applies to the occupation, not to the individual candidate's salary. IRCC publishes the list using Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census wage data from the previous three years. The points awarded depend on the occupation's wage level:

• Canadian work experience (at least 12 months in an eligible high-wage occupation, on top of existing work-experience points): 70 points at 2 times the median wage, 40 points at 1.5 times, 20 points at 1.3 times.
• Qualifying job offer (full-time, for at least one year after permanent residence): 100 points at 2 times the median wage, 70 points at 1.5 times, 50 points at 1.3 times.

From the same date, a job offer does not need an LMIA to earn points or to meet the job-offer requirement of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. An LMIA gives no extra points or priority. IRCC officers assess whether each job offer is genuine when the application for permanent residence is reviewed.

Who's affected

The change applies to all candidates in the Express Entry selection system. Profiles already in the pool are recalculated automatically, including points for eligible Canadian work experience. IRCC states that candidates who want job-offer points must add the job-offer details to their profiles before November 3. IRCC lists health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education among the occupation groups that include high-wage occupations.

When it takes effect

The new points and the LMIA change take effect on November 3, 2026. IRCC states that recalculating existing profiles may take up to two weeks and that invitation rounds pause during that period. The change is the first measure implemented from the 2026 consultation on Express Entry reforms, whose final report IRCC published on October 15, 2026. As of October 22, 2026, the proposed merger of the three federal high-skilled programs into one class has not been published in the Canada Gazette.