Healthcare Jobs Outlook

If you’ve kept up with healthcare employment trends, you know that the demand for healthcare professionals remains high. Many factors contribute to the rise. For example, the percentage of the total Canadian population that is 65 years of age is growing quickly and has an increased need for healthcare.

Trends that are impacting the nursing field include a decline in new nursing graduates, more professionals leaving their positions late in their careers and an increase in part-time and casual positions, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

As we head into 2019, we thought it might be helpful to look at some job market statistics. You may want to keep this information in mind as you tackle talent planning and goals for you team.

  • Community care facilities for the elderly has seen consistent employment growth. Statistics Canada said the growth in this industry has more than doubled since 2006, which reflects the needs of the aging population.
  • Another statistic that supports the aging population on the caregiver side – About 41% of registered nurses are 50 years of age and over, while 12% are under 29, according to 2016 figures provided by the Nurses Association of New Brunswick.
  • Figures released recently by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) show that Ontario has the worst RN-to-population ratio in Canada. Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) calculations based on CIHI figures show the province has only 669 RNs per 100,000 people compared to 828 RNs per 100,000 people across the rest of Canada.

Why Does This Matter?

Those are a lot of numbers so let’s take a step back and look at what this means.

Under a status quo scenario, overall demand for nursing for seniors in home, community and facility-living environments is projected to increase from just under 64,000 full-year jobs to 142,000 full-year jobs by 2035, which is an annual growth rate of 3.4%. This rate exceeds the 1% annual growth projected in the general labour force, according to a study by The Conference Board of Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, in healthcare and social assistance, employment rose for the second consecutive month, up 19,000 in November 2018. Most of the increase came from Alberta and Ontario. In the 12 months leading up to November, employment in the industry increased 57,000 or 2.4%. This seems to suggest that healthcare professionals remain in demand and therefore have the opportunity to move at any time.

In this type of environment, employee retention should be a high priority. Recruiting, onboarding, training and developing talent is a significant financial investment for an organization – not to mention a substantial time commitment.

A high turnover rate can be caused by multiple reasons and varies among employees. Some factors may include:

  • Hours – Long shifts and unpredictable scheduling can take a toll over time.
  • High-stress environment – Hospitals, clinics and assisted living settings bring a high level of stress.
  • Salary – With an increase in job openings, employees may search for more competitive pay and benefits.
  • Access to tools and resources – Everything from cutting-edge technology to providing clean, comfortable uniforms can contribute to job satisfaction.
  • Career development – If opportunities for training and advancement are few and far between, employees may look elsewhere for promotions.

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