Key takeaways
- Labour market integration (LMI) replaces the core Canadian work experience factor from November 3, 2026.
- Score = the higher of (work-length points + high-wage bonus) or (job offer points). Never both.
- Maximum 150 points without a spouse, 140 with one.
- The high-wage bonus needs 12 months (1,560 hours) in listed NOC codes; mixed levels drop you to the lower tier.
- Skill transferability points don't change and still use your total years of Canadian work.
From November 3, 2026, the CRS scores Canadian work experience and job offers through a new labour market integration (LMI) factor. This guide shows exactly how it's calculated. For the announcement itself, see what changes on November 3.
The formula
Your LMI score is the higher of two options:
- Experience option: work-length points + high-wage bonus
- Job offer option: job offer points
It is capped at 150 points if you're single (or your spouse isn't coming or is already a Canadian citizen or PR) and 140 points if you're scored with a spouse.
Step 1: work-length points
Same table as before November 3:
| Years of Canadian work (last 10 years, TEER 0–3) | Without a spouse | With a spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 40 | 35 |
| 2 | 53 | 46 |
| 3 | 64 | 56 |
| 4 | 72 | 63 |
| 5 or more | 80 | 70 |
Step 2: the high-wage bonus
Look at the NOC codes for your qualifying Canadian work and check them against the high-wage occupations list. You need at least 12 months (1,560 hours):
| Your 12 months were in… | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Only Level 1 occupations | +70 |
| Level 1 and/or Level 2 occupations | +40 |
| Any mix of Level 1, 2 and 3 occupations | +20 |
| Fewer than 12 months in listed occupations | 0 |
The bonus is the same with or without a spouse. That's why the cap is 150 single (80 + 70) and 140 with a spouse (70 + 70).
Mixed jobs drop you to the lower tier
- 12 months as a financial manager (Level 1) → +70
- 6 months as a financial manager (Level 1) + 6 months as a data scientist (Level 2) → +40, because only 6 months are at Level 1
- 8 months as a software engineer (Level 2) + 4 months as a web developer (Level 3) → +20
- 10 months as a software engineer (Level 2) + 2 months as a web designer (not listed) → 0, because only 10 months are in listed occupations
How hours are counted
- Months don't need to be continuous. Gaps are fine.
- Part-time counts if it adds up to the full-time equivalent (1,560 hours).
- Two jobs at the same time only count up to 30 hours a week combined.
- The usual Express Entry rules still apply: paid work, in Canada, within the last 10 years, TEER 0 to 3. Special provisions apply to some physicians providing publicly funded services.
Step 3: job offer points
| Job offer in… | Points |
|---|---|
| Level 1 occupation | 100 |
| Level 2 occupation | 70 |
| Level 3 occupation | 50 |
| An occupation not on the list | 0 |
The offer must be valid under Express Entry. No LMIA is needed from November 3. See job offers without an LMIA.
Worked examples
Single applicants (maximum 150)
| Profile | Experience option | Job offer option | LMI score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year, software engineer (21231, L2) | 40 + 40 = 80 | none | 80 |
| 3 years, accountant (11100, L3) | 64 + 20 = 84 | none | 84 |
| 5 years, financial manager (10010, L1) | 80 + 70 = 150 | none | 150 |
| 2 years, cook (63200, not listed) | 53 + 0 = 53 | none | 53 |
| 1 year, network technician (22220) + L2 offer as information systems specialist | 40 + 0 = 40 | 70 | 70 |
| 4 years, registered nurse (31301, L2) + L1 offer as nurse practitioner | 72 + 40 = 112 | 100 | 112 |
| No Canadian work, abroad, + L1 offer as an engineering manager | 0 | 100 | 100 |
Couples scored with a spouse (maximum 140)
| Profile | Experience option | Job offer option | LMI score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year, software engineer (21231, L2) | 35 + 40 = 75 | none | 75 |
| 5 years, lawyer (41101, L1) | 70 + 70 = 140 | none | 140 |
| 2 years, retail supervisor (62010) + L1 job offer | 46 + 0 = 46 | 100 | 100 |
What doesn't change
- Skill transferability still uses your total years of Canadian work for the education and foreign-work combinations. The high-wage bonus isn't part of it.
- Your spouse's Canadian work experience points (up to 10) are unchanged.
- Additional points (provincial nomination 600, French up to 50, Canadian study 15 or 30, sibling 15) are unchanged. Job offers no longer sit in this section; they're part of LMI.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting your salary instead of your NOC. High-wage status is set by the national median for the NOC code.
- Adding job offer and experience points together. IRCC uses the higher one only.
- Counting hours before you have 12 months in listed jobs. 11 months in a Level 1 job earns no bonus yet.
- Forgetting to update your profile. Experience is re-scored automatically, but job offer points need you to enter the offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the labour market integration factor in Express Entry?
It's the CRS factor that replaces core Canadian work experience from November 3, 2026. You score the higher of work-length points plus a high-wage bonus (20, 40 or 70), or job offer points (50, 70 or 100). It's capped at 150 points without a spouse and 140 with one.
How many hours do I need for the high-wage bonus?
At least 12 months, or 1,560 hours, of qualifying Canadian work in high-wage occupations. The months can be non-continuous and part-time can count. Concurrent jobs only count up to 30 hours a week.
Does the high-wage bonus change my skill transferability points?
No. IRCC says skills transferability assessments are unchanged and don't use the high-wage requirements.
I have 6 months in a Level 1 job and 6 months in a Level 2 job. What bonus do I get?
40 points. The 70-point bonus needs all 12 months in Level 1 occupations; 12 months combined at Level 2 or higher earns 40.
Official sources
Figures and rules in this guide are checked against IRCC program pages. If anything conflicts, trust the government page.
Canadian PRLedger is a free tracking and calculator tool — not a law firm, not an RCIC practice, and not affiliated with IRCC. These guides summarize public program rules for planning purposes only. For case-specific advice, speak with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
