Right now, Canada is desperate for qualified nurses.
Job Bank, the federal government’s employment website, has put out a public statement saying that on its current trajectory, Canada will be short of almost 37,000 nurses by 2028.
What’s caused the situation? And what does it mean for prospective and qualified nurses seeking employment?
Read on to find out.
The Pandemic Has Increased The Demand for Nurses
In 2018, before the COVID-19 global pandemic struck, Canada was already short on qualified nurses. Now, the nation’s health sector is under severe strain, and even more jobs have become available. The country is therefore welcoming foreign nurses, and all nurses are being paid well.
Why This Situation is Not Going to Change Anytime Soon
Since the pandemic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, job opportunities will only improve in the coming years.
According to the Canadian Job Bank, registered nurses will have job security at least until 2028:
For registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, over the period 2019-2028, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 191,100, while 154,600 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them.
The labor shortage conditions seen in recent years are expected to persist into the 2019-2028 period, and could even become more acute as the projected number of job openings is expected to be substantially larger than the projected number of job seekers over that period.
Foreign Nationals And Local Students Can Benefit From The Situation By Becoming a Qualified Canadian Nurse
Currently, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are offering foreign nurses incentives to migrate to Canada and work.
Canadian students, too, are being encouraged to register under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code 3012, which specifies the roles and responsibilities of nurses in Canada.
To become a registered Canadian nurse, students and foreign nationals must have:
- completed an approved tertiary nursing program
- completed any additional academic training or experience needed to specialize in a specific area of nursing
