Maple News reports that the province of Quebec is stepping up its international recruitment efforts in response to a growing shortage of nurses and healthcare workers. With local resources stretched thin, the Quebec health network plans to hire over 1,700 nurses and more than 200 orderlies from abroad in the coming months.
Recruitment missions are scheduled to take place in France and Belgium, where health professionals are being encouraged to consider a move to Quebec. This strategy reflects an urgent need to address longstanding gaps in the province’s healthcare system—challenges that have worsened significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quebec’s reliance on internationally trained healthcare workers has surged, with current foreign recruitment targets five times higher than they were just two years ago. Retirements, burnout, and job dissatisfaction have led many Canadian healthcare workers to leave the profession, intensifying manpower shortages across the province.
The issue, however, is not unique to Quebec. Provinces from coast to coast are experiencing similar shortfalls. Recent labor market data reveals a nearly 50% increase in nursing job vacancies nationwide, especially in critical areas such as emergency rooms and intensive care units.
Statistics Canada further underscores this crisis. In November 2020 alone, the healthcare sector accounted for more than 20% of all job vacancies in Canada—112,700 positions—making it the most understaffed industry. The Canadian Labour Force Survey also emphasizes that immigrants play an essential role in this sector, with over 40% of nurse aides, orderlies, and medical specialists being newcomers to Canada.
The situation highlights how immigration continues to shape and support the country’s healthcare infrastructure. It also underscores the potential opportunities for qualified foreign workers seeking employment and permanent residence in Canada through healthcare-specific immigration pathways.
As Quebec intensifies international hiring efforts, the move represents a window of opportunity for healthcare professionals abroad who are considering immigration to Canada. Maple News will continue to cover this developing story and provide updates on recruitment campaigns, policy changes, and immigration pathways that support critical sectors like healthcare.