Growing demand for international nurses in Canada

An ongoing nursing shortage means well-trained international nurses are in high demand with many job openings to pick from.

There’s no one cause of the nursing shortage in Canada; a combination of several factors mean the supply of nursing staff isn’t enough to meet demand:

1. Aging population

Canada's population is aging rapidly, with seniors projected to make up to 25% of the population by 2036. This demographic shift is increasing the demand for healthcare services, including nursing care.

2. Retiring workforce

A substantial portion of Canada's nursing workforce is nearing retirement age. According to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, a third of registered nurses providing direct care were over 50 years old in 2020, meaning a wave of retirements is on the horizon.

3. Burnout

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of as many as 83% of registered nurses in Ontario, with 34% considering leaving the profession as a result.

4. Limited training capacity

Despite growing demand, Canadian nursing schools have limited capacity to train new nurses. This bottleneck in education contributes to the ongoing shortage.

The Canadian government has made a commitment to address the nursing shortage, allocating $2.8 million CAD to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing to develop a National Nurse Residency program.

How many nursing job openings are there in Canada?

Nurses are in high demand across Canada’s ten provinces and three territories, with significant numbers of job openings across the country.

That demand is increasing, with the number of job vacancies for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses increasing by almost 10% in the third quarter of 2023.

To help address the shortage, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allocated $115 million CAD over the next five years, and $57 million CAD ongoing for expanding Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program, helping international nurses get their qualifications recognized by the Canadian government.

Which Canadian provinces and territories have the highest demand for nurses?

The biggest Canadian province is also the hungriest for nurses. In 2023, the Ontario Nurses Association reported a shortage of about 24,000 nurses, and the province has held the dubious honor of having the lowest nurse-to-population ratio for almost a decade.

French-speaking Quebec isn’t far behind in the nursing need department. Canadian think tank MEI projected a shortage of about 10,000 nurses in 2021. French is the official language of the province, so you’ll need to have professional level French or be willing to learn.

With an increasing number of residents over the age of 65, prairie province, Alberta, is facing its own nursing crunch. The provincial government even announced a Health Workforce Strategy with a pillar dedicated to attracting international healthcare workers.

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are also worth highlighting as they’ve recently introduced an accelerated license process for international nurses.

Where do international nurses come from?

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, about 8.9% of registered nurses in Canada in 2021 were internationally educated, highlighting the significant contribution of foreign-trained professionals to Canada's healthcare system.

Nurses relocate to Canada from the Philippines and India, with many coming from the southern state of Kerala, known for its nursing education programs. More recently, there’s a growing trend of Nigerian, Jamaican, and Chinese nurses moving to call Canada home.

From getting ahead in their careers to feeling welcome, here are eight key reasons why international nurses are drawn to Canada.

What’s next?

If you’re eyeing up a move North, you’ll need to submit your nursing credentials, take the NCLEX-RN to qualify for a Canadian nursing license if needed, and show you’ve got the necessary language skills.

Get your move off to a stress-free start with the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

With no additional speaking exam, PTE covers all four skills in one test using computer-based assessments to remove bias. It’s the faster, fairer, simpler way to evidence your English skills and start your next chapter.