According to a new Statistics Canada study, Maple News reports that 58% of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) employed in Canada’s healthcare sector between 2000 and 2022 have successfully transitioned to permanent resident (PR) status. The findings highlight the growing role of foreign talent in addressing critical staffing needs across the country’s healthcare system.
Among these workers, Filipino and Indian nationals stand out as major contributors. An impressive 77% of Filipino healthcare workers and 57% of Indian workers secured PR within this period — a testament to the demand for their expertise and Canada’s commitment to streamlining immigration for essential workers.
Notably, more than one in four foreign healthcare workers gained PR within just two years of starting employment in Canada. This trend has remained consistent over the 22-year study period, suggesting a stable path to permanence for skilled workers in this sector.
A total of 105,000 temporary healthcare workers made the transition to permanent residency during the study period. The largest waves occurred between 2015–2019 and 2022–2023, with 27,800 and 27,300 individuals respectively gaining PR. These figures underscore not only the steady demand for healthcare professionals but also the effectiveness of targeted immigration pathways.
Most healthcare workers obtained permanent status through economic immigration streams, which accounted for 68% to 78% of transitions depending on the cohort. Between 2005 and 2019, a significant number transitioned under the now-retired Live-in Caregiver Program. When this program was phased out, newer pilots like the Home Care Worker Pilot and the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway came into play.
Specifically, 27% of foreign healthcare workers who transitioned in 2022 and 2023 did so under the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway — a short-term initiative launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented from May to November 2021.
These findings reinforce the essential contribution of foreign workers to Canada’s healthcare resilience. As the country continues facing healthcare staffing shortages, immigration measures designed for healthcare professionals remain a priority in national policy.
Immigration remains one of Canada’s key tools for addressing labor market challenges, and the healthcare sector is a prime example of how foreign talent is shaping the future of critical services.