A surge in hiring within the health-care sectors of Alberta and Ontario has been pivotal in sustaining Canada’s national job market. This growth appears to reflect the sluggish performance of the broader economy rather than direct improvements in patient care outcomes. According to a report by Desjardins Group analyzing Statistics Canada data, the two provinces have collectively added over 100,000 health-care jobs in public institutions since the onset of the U.S. trade war.
Both Alberta and Ontario have allocated significant increases in healthcare spending, with each province planning to invest over $8 billion more in healthcare in 2026 compared to the previous year. This substantial investment has been a key driver behind the employment growth in the health-care sector, as highlighted by Desjardins’ deputy chief economist, Randall Bartlett.
Despite the significant job creation in the health-care sector, the overall employment landscape in Canada would have remained relatively stagnant without these additions. The surge in health-care jobs has outpaced hiring in other industries, particularly in hospitals and services for the elderly, as reported by the Labour Force Survey.
While the increased hiring aligns with efforts to bolster public health care in Alberta and Ontario, experts caution that expanded spending and job growth do not automatically translate to enhanced patient services. Fiona Clement, director of the Centre for Health Policy at the University of Calgary’s Cummings School of Medicine, emphasized that not all health-care sector jobs directly impact patient care.
In Alberta, the restructuring of the health authority into four separate agencies has necessitated a growth in the health-care workforce. Clement noted that while there has been notable workforce expansion, the data from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta indicates a limited increase in the number of physicians in the province.
The rise in health-care spending and job creation in Alberta and Ontario may also be attributed to preparing for upcoming demographic shifts, including an anticipated wave of retirements among healthcare professionals. Experts emphasize that healthcare spending tends to escalate over time due to increasing demand driven by population growth.
Looking ahead, Desjardins anticipates continued robust hiring in the health-care sector in both provinces, with ongoing budget allocations for additional health-care spending. The aging population and other factors are expected to sustain the upward trajectory of health-care costs and workforce expansion, signaling a sustained trend in the foreseeable future.
Ultimately, the success of the increased hiring in the health-care sector will be judged by the tangible outcomes experienced by Canadians seeking healthcare services. Taxpayers are likely to gauge the effectiveness of this hiring surge based on the actual improvements in healthcare delivery rather than just the headline job numbers.