Canada is facing an urgent need for healthcare support workers—including nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates—as the country’s aging population fuels an ongoing labour shortage in the healthcare sector. According to Maple News, nearly 191,000 job openings are projected in this field between 2022 and 2031, yet only about 170,100 qualified candidates are expected to fill them. This leaves a shortfall of over 20,000 positions across the country.
To help close this gap, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched targeted Express Entry draws in May 2023, focusing specifically on healthcare-related occupations. Nurse aides and orderlies, classified under NOC 33102, are now among the top priority categories for permanent residency candidates.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate at least six months of continuous work experience in this occupation within the past three years. This experience can be acquired inside or outside Canada, and can include work completed under a valid work permit or as an international student with off-campus work authorization. These targeted draws apply to all three major federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are also aligned with these changes, with several provinces launching their own healthcare-focused immigration streams. Provinces such as Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon offer particularly strong job prospects for nurse aides. Other provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, also report healthy demand.
Under Canada’s NOC 2021 system, nurse aides and patient service associates typically assist medical staff in providing care, helping patients with mobility, hygiene, and daily activities. These professionals primarily work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home-care settings. National median wages for NOC 33102 stand at $21 per hour, with earnings ranging from $16 to $25.83 per hour depending on location and experience. This translates to an annual income of approximately $40,950 to $50,368 based on a 37.5-hour workweek.
Increased transparency is another key component of IRCC’s category-based selection framework. The department now consults with provinces, employers, unions, and settlement agencies to determine high-demand occupations and must report annually to Parliament on its selection rationale. This responsive model allows immigration strategy to be more tightly aligned with evolving labour market needs.
For internationally trained nurse aides and healthcare support workers, this presents an exceptional opportunity to pursue permanent residence in Canada. Those aiming to immigrate under these new Express Entry draws should focus on verifying their work experience, meeting language requirements, and gathering all necessary documentation.
Maple News reports that as demand for frontline healthcare workers continues to rise, skilled professionals in supporting roles are not only welcomed—but needed—in Canada’s healthcare future.