What do the national figures show?
In 2025, Statistics Canada counted approximately 67,900 job vacancies in health occupations in Canada. The job vacancy rate was 4.5%, compared with 2.7% for all occupations.
This rate measures vacancies as a share of the total of filled and vacant positions. It describes a labour market situation, not the probability that an individual will find a job. Nor does it measure all of the population’s care needs.
Results differ by occupational group. In 2025, the national rate was 12.3% for licensed practical nurses and 5.0% for the group comprising registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners. These two categories should not be confused.
Nursing outlooks: comparison by province
For an initial comparison across regions, Job Bank publishes outlooks for the registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses group. The categories below cover the 2025–2027 period and are based on its update of December 10, 2025.
| Outlook | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Very good | Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Good | Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia |
| Moderate | Quebec |
This table is not a general ranking of health-care shortages. It concerns the occupational group examined by Job Bank, not practical nursing or all health professions. A provincial category does not necessarily describe every region within the province.
If you are interested in a province, continue your research for your exact job title and the region where you would like to live. A “very good” outlook remains a general indication: it does not tell you whether a specific position will match your education, experience or preferences.
Job vacancies and outlooks: two different indicators
Statistics Canada’s regional rates provide another perspective, but they do not measure the same thing as the table above. For 2024, they cover a range of health-related occupations:
| Region or grouping | Health job vacancy rate, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Quebec | 7.4% |
| Ontario | 5.6% |
| British Columbia | 5.5% |
| Atlantic provinces, collectively | 6.2% |
| Prairies, collectively | 4.2% |
| Territories, collectively | 7.8% |
The last three figures concern geographic groupings: they cannot be attributed individually to each province or territory within them. In addition, these rates cover 2024 and several occupations, while the earlier outlooks concern one nursing group and a forward-looking period.
When reading a data point, ask three questions: which occupation, which region and which period? A high vacancy rate, a favourable outlook and a need for care are useful pieces of information, but they are not interchangeable.
Education and professional licensing: the Ontario example
Before choosing a program or starting a credential recognition process, identify the professional title and province of practice you are aiming for. Then contact the organization that regulates that profession in the relevant region.
The College of Nurses of Ontario describes a process for people educated in nursing outside Canada who are applying to register as a registered nurse or registered practical nurse and are not already registered in the same category elsewhere in Canada. It first requires their education documents to be verified by an approved assessment service. It may then request additional information, for example about their education.
This verification is one step in the application process; it is not, by itself, authorization to practise. People who are already registered in the same category elsewhere in Canada, and those applying to register as nurse practitioners, should consult the College’s guidance for their situation. The Ontario example also does not describe the process in another province or for another profession.
If you already have training, ask the relevant organization what documents it needs before deciding to return to school. If you are just starting out, check whether the program you are considering meets the requirements for the title you are seeking.
International students: three processes to distinguish
Anyone coming to study in Canada should consider the following separately:
- Admission: The requirements of the program and institution you are considering.
- Professional licensing: The requirements of the relevant organization for your chosen title and province.
- The right to work: The immigration conditions that apply to your situation after your studies.
The post-graduation work permit is one pathway to consider, without assuming that every credential or person qualifies. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada indicates that eligibility depends on several criteria, some of which vary according to the type of credential and the date of application. Check the current rules for your situation before building your plans around this permit.
A work permit does not replace the professional registration required to practise a regulated profession. Conversely, a process with a professional organization does not, by itself, resolve your right to work.
Universities and programs: global health or a clinical profession?
If you are interested in health but have not yet chosen a clinical profession, a general program can help you explore population and policy issues. Here are two examples to compare for what they teach, rather than as shortcuts to a nursing title:
- At McGill University, the Faculty Program in Population and Global Health (B.A.) combines the study of health determinants, ethics and policy, among other topics, with a semester of experiential learning.
- At York University, Global Health is available as a BA and a BSc. The program covers topics including global health policies, disease and health equity.
These examples suit an interest in population health or global health. They are not direct nursing qualifications. If your goal is to care for patients under a regulated title, start with the requirements for that title, then look for programs that correspond to them. Also check admission requirements and, if applicable, your situation with IRCC.
A way to make a decision
Start by writing a precise sentence: “I want to work as a [specific occupation] in [specific province]” or “I want to study population health but have not yet chosen an occupation.” These two plans can lead to very different research.
For a specific clinical occupation, first compare the outlook for the title and region, then check the requirements of the professional organization. For broader exploration, compare program content and the opportunities you would like to consider after graduation, without assuming that a clinical title will automatically be accessible.
In either case, build a budget and timeline that cover your studies and the processes you are considering. For an international plan, also verify your status and work conditions. Finally, note the date of the data you consult: outlooks and rules may change between your initial research and your application.