Healthcare Graduates Lead Career Success Among International Students in Canada
New research from Statistics Canada reveals that international graduates from healthcare programs are outperforming their peers in STEM and business fields when it comes to career success and job alignment after immigrating to Canada.
The study — conducted by Youjin Choi and Li Xu — analyzed foreign nationals who became permanent residents between 2011 and 2021. It found that healthcare graduates were more likely to work in occupations directly related to their field of study compared to graduates in STEM or business programs.
Key Highlights
- Healthcare graduates have the strongest job alignment — with 56.7% working in roles directly tied to their studies.
- STEM graduates followed with a 43% alignment rate, while business and administration students had the lowest at 35.2%.
- Bachelor’s degree healthcare graduates achieved the highest alignment among all education levels.
- International students who earned their highest education in Canada had higher alignment rates than those who studied abroad.
- STEM graduates had the lowest unemployment rate, even though their work alignment was lower than healthcare professionals.
- The findings highlight that Canada’s healthcare sector continues to offer the most consistent employment pathways for study-to-PR international students.
Study-to-Work Alignment by Field
| Field of Study | Alignment Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | 56.7 |
| STEM | 43.0 |
| Business and Administration | 35.2 |
Detailed Alignment Breakdown — STEM Specializations
| STEM Field | Alignment Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Science & Technology | 23.9 |
| Engineering & Engineering Tech | 47.3 |
| Mathematics & Computer Science | 47.9 |
Healthcare graduates maintained higher alignment rates than even the top-performing STEM specializations.
Education Level and Alignment
| Field | Below Bachelor’s (%) | Bachelor’s (%) | Above Bachelor’s (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEM | 21.9 | 39.6 | 53.1 |
| Business | 19.3 | 38.4 | 44.6 |
| Healthcare | 53.8 | 62.1 | 51.6 |
Healthcare programs showed the highest job alignment at the bachelor’s level, while STEM and business graduates benefited more from postgraduate study.
Study Location Impact
| Field of Study | Highest Education in Canada (%) | Outside Canada (%) |
|---|---|---|
| STEM | 47.9 | 31.7 |
| Business | 37.6 | 29.0 |
| Healthcare | 57.5 | 56.0 |
Graduates who completed their education in Canada had a stronger link between their studies and their careers, especially in STEM fields (+16.2% improvement).
Employment Quality Among Unaligned Graduates
Even graduates working outside their study field found success:
- STEM grads: Most likely to shift into medium-skilled roles (TEER 2–3) rather than low-skilled ones.
- Healthcare grads: Equally likely to work in high and medium-skilled occupations, maintaining strong employment outcomes.
- Business grads: Most likely to work outside their study-related fields, often in lower-skilled occupations.
Why This Matters for International Students
- Healthcare programs continue to offer Canada’s strongest job-to-study connection, making them a top choice for international students seeking permanent residency.
- STEM programs still provide strong job opportunities and low unemployment, especially for those who study and work in Canada.
- Canadian education credentials significantly increase a student’s chance of getting jobs aligned with their field.
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