Healthcare remains one of Canada's most important employment sectors, with the country continuing to face shortages across several healthcare occupations.

Canada's health workforce includes physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, diagnostic specialists, pharmacists, therapists, and other healthcare workers. The federal government has identified persistent workforce shortages as a major challenge, particularly in nursing and primary care. (Canada)

In the second quarter of 2025, Canada recorded 68,900 unfilled positions in health occupations. Although this was down from the previous year, the number remained substantially above pre-pandemic levels. (Canada)

For students choosing a healthcare degree, this creates opportunities across clinical and non-clinical professions. However, demand differs by occupation and province, so an "in-demand" degree should be understood as a degree that provides a pathway into an occupation with significant current or projected labour-market needs.

1. Nursing

Nursing is one of the most in-demand healthcare fields in Canada.

Registered nurses provide direct patient care, administer medications, monitor patients, coordinate treatment, educate patients and families, and work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, community health centres, and other settings.

Canada's federal government has identified registered nurses among the healthcare occupations experiencing significant workforce shortages. A 2025 assessment estimated a current need for approximately 28,000 additional registered nurses across Canada. (Canada)

Registered nurses also represented the largest group of healthcare vacancies among several key nursing occupations in 2025. (Open Government Portal)

Potential Careers

• Registered nurse
• Public health nurse
• Community health nurse
• Critical care nurse
• Pediatric nurse
• Oncology nurse
• Mental health nurse
• Nurse educator

Nursing also provides a pathway into advanced practice and leadership roles.

2. Practical Nursing

Licensed practical nurses, known as registered practical nurses in Ontario, provide nursing care under the applicable provincial regulatory framework.

They work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community settings, clinics, and other healthcare environments.

Canada's 2025 health workforce assessment identified a need for approximately 14,000 additional licensed practical nurses. (Canada)

Licensed practical nursing also had 8,700 job vacancies in the second quarter of 2025, making it one of the major sources of healthcare vacancies in the country. (Open Government Portal)

Potential Careers

• Licensed practical nurse
• Registered practical nurse
• Long-term care nurse
• Community care nurse
• Continuing care nurse

The specific professional title and registration requirements depend on the province.

3. Nurse Practitioner Studies

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who provide a broader range of healthcare services than registered nurses.

They assess patients, diagnose conditions, order and interpret certain tests, prescribe medications within their scope of practice, and provide ongoing care.

Canada's health workforce assessment estimated a need for approximately 2,700 additional nurse practitioners. (Canada)

The federal Job Bank currently rates nurse practitioner prospects as varying by province, with Ontario classified as "Very good" and British Columbia as "Good" for 2025–2027. (Job Bank)

Potential Careers

• Primary care nurse practitioner
• Family nurse practitioner
• Acute care nurse practitioner
• Pediatric nurse practitioner
• Mental health nurse practitioner

This is generally a postgraduate pathway for registered nurses rather than a first-entry healthcare degree.

4. Medicine

Physicians remain highly important to Canada's healthcare system, particularly in primary care.

Canada's health workforce assessment identified a need for approximately 23,000 additional family physicians. (Canada)

The shortage is particularly significant in rural and remote communities, where access to primary healthcare can be more limited.

Potential Careers

• Family physician
• General practitioner
• Emergency physician
• Internist
• Pediatrician
• Psychiatrist
• Surgeon
• Specialist physician

Medicine is an extremely competitive pathway in Canada, particularly for international students.

Students should therefore distinguish between the strong labour-market demand for physicians and the difficulty of obtaining admission to Canadian medical schools as an international student.

5. Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is another healthcare field experiencing significant workforce needs.

Physiotherapists help patients recover from injuries, surgeries, neurological conditions, chronic illnesses, and other conditions affecting movement and physical function.

Canada's 2025 health workforce assessment estimated a need for approximately 2,600 additional physiotherapists. (Canada)

Potential Careers

• Physiotherapist
• Sports physiotherapist
• Orthopedic physiotherapist
• Neurological physiotherapist
• Pediatric physiotherapist
• Geriatric physiotherapist
• Rehabilitation specialist

Demand for rehabilitation services is also influenced by Canada's aging population and increasing need for services that help people maintain independence.

6. Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists help people develop, recover, or maintain the skills required for everyday activities.

They work with people affected by injuries, disabilities, developmental conditions, neurological disorders, and other health challenges.

Canada's health workforce assessment estimated a need for approximately 2,000 additional occupational therapists. (Canada)

Potential Careers

• Occupational therapist
• Pediatric occupational therapist
• Neurological occupational therapist
• Geriatric occupational therapist
• Rehabilitation specialist
• Community occupational therapist

Occupational therapy can be particularly suitable for students interested in rehabilitation, disability services, pediatrics, or aging populations.

7. Pharmacy

Pharmacists play an important role in Canada's healthcare system by dispensing medications, counseling patients, monitoring drug therapy, and working with other healthcare professionals.

Canada's federal government identified pharmacists among healthcare professionals needed to address labour shortages. The government also reported that pharmacists were among the healthcare occupations represented in regional economic immigration admissions. (Canada)

Potential Careers

• Community pharmacist
• Hospital pharmacist
• Clinical pharmacist
• Oncology pharmacist
• Pharmaceutical industry professional
• Medication safety specialist
• Pharmacy manager

Students should remember that pharmacy is a regulated profession, and provincial registration is required to practice.

8. Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory therapy is a specialized healthcare field focused on patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions.

Respiratory therapists assess patients, provide respiratory treatments, operate specialized equipment, and assist in managing patients with serious breathing problems.

The Canadian government has specifically identified respiratory therapists among occupations experiencing acute labour shortages. (Canada)

Potential Careers

• Respiratory therapist
• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist
• Critical care respiratory therapist
• Pulmonary function technologist
• Sleep-disorder specialist

The field can be particularly attractive for students interested in hospital-based clinical care and critical care medicine.

9. Medical Laboratory Science

Medical laboratory professionals perform diagnostic testing that helps physicians and other healthcare providers identify and monitor diseases.

Laboratory professionals can work with blood, tissue, microbiological samples, and other specimens.

Canada has identified medical laboratory technologists among healthcare occupations experiencing significant labour shortages. (Canada)

Potential Careers

• Medical laboratory technologist
• Clinical laboratory technologist
• Microbiology technologist
• Hematology technologist
• Histology technologist
• Medical laboratory specialist

This can be a good option for students who prefer laboratory and diagnostic work over direct bedside care.

Most In-Demand Healthcare Degrees Compared

Canada does not have one official ranking of "most in-demand healthcare degrees." Labour-market demand is measured by occupation and can vary by province.

The following degrees provide pathways into healthcare occupations that Canada's federal government has identified as facing significant workforce needs.

Healthcare Degree	Representative Career	Current Demand
Nursing	Registered nurse	Very high
Practical Nursing	Licensed practical nurse / registered practical nurse	Very high
Advanced Nursing	Nurse practitioner	High
Medicine	Family physician / physician	Very high
Physiotherapy	Physiotherapist	High
Occupational Therapy	Occupational therapist	High
Pharmacy	Pharmacist	High
Respiratory Therapy	Respiratory therapist	High
Medical Laboratory Science	Medical laboratory technologist	High

The federal government's 2025 assessment estimated current shortages of approximately 28,000 registered nurses, 14,000 licensed practical nurses, 23,000 family physicians, 2,700 nurse practitioners, 2,600 physiotherapists, 2,000 occupational therapists, and 1,700 pharmacists. (Canada)

These figures demonstrate that Canada's healthcare workforce needs extend well beyond nursing and medicine.

Why Healthcare Professionals Are in Demand in Canada

Several factors are contributing to Canada's healthcare workforce shortages.

Aging Workforce

Canada has a large healthcare workforce approaching retirement age.

The federal government reports that more than 420,000 healthcare workers are over the age of 55, meaning many workers are expected to retire over the coming decade. (Canada)

Replacing retiring professionals while expanding healthcare services creates additional demand for new graduates.

Aging Population

Canada's population is also aging, increasing the need for healthcare, chronic disease management, rehabilitation, long-term care, and community services.

This creates demand across nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and other healthcare professions.

Primary Care Shortages

Access to primary healthcare remains a major issue in Canada.

The federal health workforce assessment identified a substantial need for additional family physicians, making medicine particularly important to Canada's healthcare workforce strategy. (Canada)

Rural and Remote Healthcare Needs

Healthcare shortages are not distributed evenly across the country.

The national health workforce study found that workforce gaps are particularly significant in rural and remote communities. (Canada)

Students willing to work outside Canada's largest metropolitan areas may therefore find additional employment opportunities.

Best In-Demand Healthcare Degrees for International Students in Canada

For international students, nursing is one of the strongest healthcare pathways because Canada has significant demand for registered nurses and practical nurses.

Medicine offers an important career pathway because of Canada's shortage of physicians, particularly family physicians, but admission to Canadian medical schools can be extremely competitive for international students.

Nurse practitioner studies can provide excellent prospects for students who first qualify as registered nurses and later pursue advanced practice education.

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy provide strong options for students interested in rehabilitation, while pharmacy offers a specialized pathway focused on medication and pharmaceutical care.

Students interested in laboratory work rather than direct patient care can consider medical laboratory science, while respiratory therapy can be suitable for students interested in cardiopulmonary and critical care.

Healthcare Degrees and Provincial Demand

One of the most important considerations for international students is that healthcare is regulated primarily at the provincial and territorial level.

An occupation may have excellent prospects in one province and more moderate prospects in another.

For example, Canada's Job Bank currently classifies nurse practitioner prospects as Very good in Ontario and Good in British Columbia for 2025–2027, while prospects vary across other provinces and territories. (Job Bank)

Students should therefore research both the national picture and the specific province where they plan to study and eventually work.

Healthcare Licensing in Canada

A healthcare degree does not automatically give a graduate the right to practice.

Most clinical healthcare professions are regulated, meaning graduates must meet professional registration requirements before working in regulated roles.

Requirements can include:

• Completion of an approved program
• Professional examinations
• Language requirements
• Clinical experience
• Registration with a provincial or territorial regulator
• Continuing professional requirements

International students should investigate these requirements before choosing a program, particularly when selecting a profession such as nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or medicine.

Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals

Canada is also actively working to improve the recognition of internationally educated healthcare professionals.

The federal government has invested in programs designed to help internationally educated health professionals complete credential recognition and enter the Canadian workforce more quickly. (Canada)

However, international students who study in Canada still need to meet the applicable professional registration requirements after graduation.

Healthcare Degrees and Canadian Immigration

Healthcare is also significant within Canada's immigration system.

In 2026, Canada's Express Entry system continues to include healthcare and social services occupations as a renewed category for category-based selection. Candidates must meet the applicable eligibility requirements, including the required amount of qualifying work experience. (Canada)

This does not mean that studying a healthcare degree automatically leads to permanent residence.

Immigration eligibility depends on the specific occupation, work experience, language ability, education, and other program requirements.

Nevertheless, the continued inclusion of healthcare occupations in Canada's category-based immigration system demonstrates the government's recognition of healthcare workforce needs.

Post-Graduation Opportunities for International Students

Eligible international graduates may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing an eligible Canadian program, subject to the rules applicable when they apply.

A PGWP can allow graduates to gain Canadian work experience after completing their studies.

For healthcare graduates, Canadian work experience can potentially support later immigration applications where the graduate meets the requirements of the relevant program.

Students should treat the PGWP and permanent residence as separate processes and verify the current eligibility requirements before making an education decision.

How to Choose an In-Demand Healthcare Degree in Canada

1. Look Beyond the National Shortage

Canada's healthcare workforce needs are significant, but demand differs by province.

Students should check the employment outlook for their specific occupation and intended province.

2. Consider Licensing

A healthcare degree is only one part of becoming a practicing professional.

Students should research the registration process before enrolling.

3. Compare Clinical and Non-Clinical Careers

Students who want direct patient care can consider nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, or respiratory therapy.

Those who prefer laboratory work may find medical laboratory science more suitable.

4. Consider Rural Opportunities

Healthcare shortages can be particularly significant in rural and remote communities.

Students who are willing to work outside major cities may have access to a wider range of opportunities.

5. Consider the Full Education Pathway

Some careers, such as nurse practitioner and physician, require additional education beyond the initial degree.

Students should consider the complete pathway rather than only the first qualification.

Final Thoughts

Canada continues to face significant healthcare workforce shortages despite improvements from the exceptionally high vacancy levels seen during the pandemic period.

The federal government identified major current needs for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, family physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals. (Canada)

Among the strongest healthcare degree pathways for students are nursing, practical nursing, medicine, advanced nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and medical laboratory science.

For international students, nursing is particularly notable because of the scale of Canada's nursing workforce needs. However, other healthcare professions can also provide strong employment opportunities.

The best choice depends on a combination of labour-market demand, provincial opportunities, education requirements, professional licensing, salary potential, career interests, and post-graduation options.

Canada's healthcare workforce needs are expected to remain significant over the coming years, making healthcare one of the strongest areas of study for students seeking careers in a sector with long-term employment needs.