Explore which healthcare jobs are most needed in Canada, why demand is soaring, and how prospective workers — especially internationally trained professionals — can benefit. This 4,500‑word article delves into shortages, job prospects, challenges, and career guidance in Canada’s healthcare sector.
Canada, with its aging population and expanding healthcare needs, is experiencing one of the most significant workforce shortages in its health sector in decades. As of 2024, there were approximately 86,540 vacant health‑related positions, making up 15% of all job vacancies in Canada.
That gap spans across multiple roles — from frontline nurses to specialists, allied health professionals, and support workers. Here’s a detailed look at the most needed healthcare jobs in Canada, what’s driving the demand, and what aspiring professionals should know.
1. Why Canada Has High Demand for Healthcare Professionals
✅ Aging population and increased demand
- The demographic shift — with more Canadians entering older age groups — means greater demand for medical care, long-term care, and chronic disease management.
- Combined with a backlog of medical procedures (e.g. surgeries, diagnostics) and increased healthcare utilization, the strain on the workforce has grown.
📈 Rapid growth of the healthcare labour force — yet rising vacancies
- Employment in health‑related occupations rose sharply: between 2004 and 2024, the number of workers more than doubled, from a small fraction to 8.1% of all workers.
- Even so, job vacancy rates in health occupations rose from 2.1% in 2016 to 5.8% in 2024.
- Among health‑related jobs, nursing roles (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, personal support workers) and PSWs accounted for the bulk: about 53.1% of all health‑occupation employment, and 69.5% of health‑occupation vacancies.
🩺 Government initiatives, demand for immigrants, and rural/remote needs
- The national projection study shows major shortfalls across virtually all categories of healthcare workers: nearly 23,000 more family physicians, 14,000 more licensed practical nurses, 28,000 more registered nurses, plus additional need for psychiatrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
- Increasingly, provinces are recruiting internationally trained healthcare professionals and offering faster credential recognition, especially for nurses and lab technologists.
- Rural and remote areas are especially in need, where vacancy rates are often higher and retention is more challenging.
2. Top In‑Demand Healthcare Roles in Canada
Here are the specific healthcare jobs that are most needed — along with why they’re in demand and what makes them vital.
Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Psychiatric Nurses, Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Nurses (RNs + LPNs + related) continue to be the most in-demand group in Canadian healthcare.
- According to national projections (2022–2034), to meet demand Canada needs about 28,000 more RNs, 14,000 more LPNs, and 2,700 more NPs.
- Together with personal support workers, nursing‑related roles make up a majority of health‑sector vacancies.
- The higher vacancy rates are particularly severe for LPNs and PSWs: in 2024, LPN vacancy rate was ~12.8%, and PSWs ~6.7%.
Why in demand: Nurses provide frontline care in hospitals, long-term care homes, clinics, and home care. As Canada’s population ages and demand increases, more nurses are needed than ever to handle both acute and chronic care.
Family Physicians / General Practitioners (GPs) and Specialist Physicians
- Nationwide, there’s a projected need for around 23,000–25,000 more family physicians — nearly a 49% increase over current numbers to meet demand.
- Other specialties are also in demand: specialists in clinical and surgical medicine, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and other physician specialists are part of the top shortage occupations.
Why in demand: Primary care (GPs) serves as the first point of contact for most Canadians. With growing healthcare needs, insufficient numbers of family doctors lead to overburdened systems, long wait times, and gaps in preventive care. Specialist shortages worsen these bottlenecks.
Allied Health Professionals — Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Sonographers, Medical Lab Technologists, Radiology & Diagnostic Techs
- Roles like physiotherapists and occupational therapists, as well as allied diagnostic professions such as medical lab technologists/technicians, sonographers, radiation technologists, are part of the high‑demand list.
- Demand also includes other allied roles: respiratory therapists, therapy technicians, and various diagnostic technologists.
Why in demand: As the population ages and chronic diseases rise, there’s higher need for rehabilitative care, diagnostics, therapy services, and ongoing long-term care — all of which rely on allied health professionals.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy‑related Professionals
- Pharmacists are among the professions with a substantial shortage: projections indicate a need for ~1,700 more pharmacists nationally by 2034 (about a 5% increase) to meet growing demand.
- Pharmacy roles remain essential given increased demand for medication management, aging patients, and the increased prevalence of chronic illnesses.
Personal Support Workers (PSWs), Home Care Aides, Long‑Term Care Workers
- PSWs and home support caregivers form a critical part of Canada’s healthcare workforce, especially in long‑term care homes, assisted living, and home‑care settings.
- The vacancy rate for PSWs in 2024 was 6.7%, up significantly since 2016.
Why in demand: Long-term care homes, assisted‑living facilities, and home‑care services are expanding rapidly to meet the needs of Canada’s aging population. PSWs provide essential support — from daily living assistance to basic health monitoring — making their roles indispensable.
3. Regional & Provincial Variation: Where the Demand Is Highest
The demand for healthcare professionals varies by province and region. Key insights:
- Provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba have active recruitment — including foreign‑trained professionals — due to chronic shortages.
- Rural, remote, and northern regions tend to have higher vacancy rates for nurses and PSWs, often because of fewer applicants and difficulties in retention.
- Some provinces include healthcare occupations (nurses, pharmacists, therapists, long-term care staff) in their immigration nomination lists, opening a path for internationally trained candidates.
Thus, roles that may be saturated in one province (e.g. large urban centres) could be in shortage in rural or remote areas — making flexibility and willingness to relocate important.
4. What the Data Project: Future Outlook (2024–2034)
According to a recent national workforce‑projection study by Health Canada and supporting agencies:
- By 2034, Canada will need tens of thousands more health professionals to fill the supply–demand gap across multiple categories.
- Shortages are projected across physicians (family doctors), nurses (RNs, LPNs), allied health professionals, pharmacists, and PSWs.
- Particularly acute shortages are expected for family physicians, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
- The gap remains even though the supply of new health workers is growing — meaning demand is increasing faster than supply.
If no corrective measures are taken — increased training capacity, better retention, immigration — these shortages will hamper Canada’s ability to deliver timely and equitable healthcare, especially in underserved and rural areas.
5. What It Means for International Healthcare Professionals — Opportunities & Challenges
For individuals from abroad (e.g. international medical graduates, immigrant nurses, allied health professionals), Canada presents a tremendous opportunity — but there are some caveats.
✅ Opportunities
- Many provinces include high-demand healthcare occupations in their immigration / nomination (PNP) streams, targeting nurses, physicians, pharmacists, therapists, and long‑term care workers.
- Given the shortages, internationally trained professionals who meet licensing standards have good chances, especially if they are willing to work in underserved or rural areas.
- High demand often translates to competitive wages: for example, nurses can earn between CAD 70,000–105,000 (depending on experience and location), pharmacists and allied health professionals often command strong pay as well.
⚠️ Challenges & Considerations
- Credential recognition and licensing — whether for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, or lab technologists — can be a complex and lengthy process. Each province has its own regulatory authority.
- Many vacancies are in rural or remote regions. Professionals may need to relocate to less-populated areas — which may not suit everyone.
- The demand exists across a broad spectrum — not just high-skilled specialties but also support roles (PSW, long-term care aides). This means that both high-qualification professionals and those with mid-level or support skills have opportunities.
6. Recommended Healthcare Careers to Consider (If You Plan to Move to/Work in Canada)
Based on current and projected demand, the following careers stand out as especially promising:
- Registered Nurse (RN) / Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) / Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Family Physician / General Practitioner
- Specialist Physician (e.g. Surgeon, Pediatrician, Anesthesiologist)
- Physiotherapist / Occupational Therapist / other Allied Health Therapist
- Medical Laboratory Technologist / Technician / Diagnostic & Radiology Technologist / Sonographer
- Pharmacist / Pharmacy Technician / Pharmacy‑related roles
- Personal Support Worker (PSW), Home Care Aide, Long-term Care Worker
For each, demand remains high, and Canada’s immigration and workforce planning policies are favorable — provided you meet credential/licensure requirements.
7. Challenges the Healthcare System Faces — Why the Shortage Persists
Even though demand is rising and the government is trying to fill gaps, multiple systemic challenges persist:
- Burnout and retention issues: Many Canadian healthcare workers report stress, burnout, and leaving the profession — particularly in high-pressure roles.
- Credential recognition delays for internationally educated professionals, which can limit how fast foreign-trained nurses, doctors, or allied health workers can join the workforce.
- Geographic maldistribution: Many new health professionals prefer urban centres, leaving rural and remote areas understaffed.
- Training capacity constraints: While there is growth in training seats (especially for nurse practitioners), demand still outpaces the production of new graduates across many professions.
Unless these structural issues are addressed, shortages are likely to worsen despite recruitment and immigration efforts.
8. What Canada is Doing — and What Needs to be Done
What Canada is already doing
- The national workforce‑projection and planning efforts by Health Canada aim to identify shortages and forecast demand, giving governments and institutions data to act.
- Provinces actively recruit internationally trained healthcare professionals — often offering expedited licensing or easier pathways for skilled immigrants.
- Expansion of training seats, especially for nurse practitioners and other high‑need roles.
What still needs attention
- Better retention and working conditions: Address occupational burnout, staffing loads, and ensure sustainable work environments.
- Improving geographic distribution: Incentives (financial or other) to encourage work in rural and remote areas.
- Streamlining credential recognition: Faster, fairer, and more transparent licensing — especially for internationally trained professionals.
- Expanding training capacity across more roles, including allied health, long-term care, and support staff — not just physicians and nurses.
9. What This Means for You (If You Are Considering Healthcare Career in Canada)
If you are thinking about working in Canada’s healthcare sector — especially from abroad — here are some practical takeaways:
- You have high chances in nursing (RN/LPN/NP), allied health (physio, OT, lab technician), or support roles (PSW) — due to acute shortages.
- Be prepared for credential/licensure processes — check provincial requirements early, as different provinces have different regulatory bodies.
- Be open to working in less-populated or rural areas — many vacancies and high demand exist there.
- Consider long-term-care, home-care, and community-care roles — demand is rising for PSWs, caregivers, and support staff due to Canada’s aging population.
- Keep abreast of immigration streams and provincial nominee programs — many provinces prioritize healthcare professionals for permanent residency or work permits.
FAQs
Q: Which healthcare profession in Canada has the highest shortage now?
A: Nursing (Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Practitioners) shows the largest shortage, especially when combined with personal support workers and long-term care aides.
Q: Are physicians (doctors) in demand in Canada?
A: Yes — both family physicians/general practitioners and specialist physicians (e.g. surgeons, pediatricians) are in high demand across many provinces, especially to meet growing care needs.
Q: How about allied health jobs (e.g. physiotherapist, lab technologist)?
A: Allied health professionals are also among the most in-demand occupations — physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical lab technologists, sonographers, respiratory therapists, and diagnostic technicians are all high on shortage lists.
Q: Is there demand for support roles like personal support workers or home caregivers?
A: Absolutely. With aging population and expansion of long-term care & home care services, roles like PSWs, home support caregivers, and long-term care workers are critically needed across Canada.
Q: If I am internationally trained, can I get a job in Canada’s healthcare sector?
A: Yes — many provinces offer pathways for internationally educated nurses, physicians, lab technologists, etc. But you must meet licensing/credential requirements and sometimes language standards. Be prepared for certification processes.
