Majority of Healthcare Temporary Workers Secure Canadian PR
A new study from Statistics Canada reveals that Canada’s healthcare sector has been a major pathway to permanent residency (PR) for foreign workers. Between 2000 and 2022, more than 58% of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in healthcare successfully transitioned to PR.
Key Findings from the Study
- High PR Transition Rate:
- 58% of all TFWs in healthcare secured permanent residency.
- Among them, 77% of Filipino and 57% of Indian healthcare workers became PRs.
- Quick PR Access:
- More than 25% gained PR within just two years of starting work in Canada’s healthcare sector.
- Total Transitions:
- Around 105,000 healthcare workers moved from temporary status to PR between 2000 and 2022.
- By Cohorts (Number of Workers Who Became PRs):
- 2005–2009 → 10,800
- 2010–2014 → 19,100
- 2015–2019 → 27,800
- 2020–2021 → 19,700
- 2022–2023 → 27,300
Immigration Streams Used by Healthcare Workers
- Economic Programs: The majority (68–78%) obtained PR through economic immigration streams.
- Live-in Caregiver Program: Played a big role until 2019, then declined as it was replaced by the Home Care Worker Pilot.
- TR to PR Pathway (2021): A temporary policy that helped 27% of healthcare TFWs gain PR in 2022–23.
- CEC & PNP Programs: Consistently served as key routes for foreign healthcare workers.
- COVID-19 Impact: During the pandemic, IRCC invited a large number of candidates through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), leading to a sharp rise in PRs.
Demographic Trends
- Gender: About three-quarters of new PRs were women.
- Age: Average age dropped from 36.9 years (2005–2009) to 33.9 years (2022–2023).
- Source Countries:
- Nearly half of all workers came from Asia (India, Philippines, China).
- Recent years show a sharp increase from India and Haiti, while numbers from the Philippines slightly declined.
Role of Foreign Workers in Canada’s Healthcare System
- Rising Numbers:
- In 2000 → Only 3,200 TFWs in healthcare.
- In 2022 → Over 57,500 TFWs (a 17-fold increase).
- COVID-19 Effect:
- Number of healthcare TFWs rose from 26,100 in 2019 to 39,300 in 2020 (+50% in just one year).
- Workforce Share (2022):
- 3.0% in ambulatory health services
- 1.2% in hospitals
- 5.0% in nursing/residential care facilities
- Nearly 8% in home healthcare
- Provincial Dependence:
- Above national average reliance in PEI (3.9%), Nova Scotia (3.8%), New Brunswick (3.4%), and Ontario (3.3%).
- Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. employ more than 90% of foreign healthcare workers.
Immigration Pathways Open to Healthcare Professionals
Canada has multiple immigration programs designed for healthcare workers, reflecting the urgent demand:
- Express Entry – Healthcare Occupation Category
- Home Care Worker Pilot (HCWP)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP):
- Alberta Dedicated Healthcare Pathway
- Saskatchewan Health Talent Pathway
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): Available for healthcare-related study programs, even below bachelor’s level.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
