Ontario Needs Nurses and Healthcare Workers

Ontario’s looming healthcare staffing crunch is turning into a major immigration opportunity for nurses and support workers

Ontario is on track for a serious shortage of healthcare staff over the next decade, and the numbers are hard to ignore. Forecasts point to a need for about 33,200 additional nurses and roughly 50,853 more personal support workers (PSWs) by 2032. Northern Ontario is expected to feel the strain even more, due to long-running recruitment and retention challenges.

For internationally trained healthcare professionals, this is more than a labour market headline. It is a signal that Ontario will keep leaning on immigration to stabilize frontline care.

The pressure is rising and unions say the public needs to see it

Healthcare unions have been warning for years that chronic understaffing and burnout are pushing the system toward the edge. Union leaders argue that when staffing gaps widen, the impact is not abstract. It shows up in longer waits, heavier workloads, and reduced continuity of care.

That tension matters for newcomers because it shapes policy decisions. When public pressure rises, governments often respond with faster hiring pipelines, targeted immigration draws, and new bridging supports. The demand is not likely to fade quickly.

The shortage trajectory is steep, especially for PSWs

Ontario’s nurse shortage is projected to grow year after year, from about 6,000 in 2022 to a projected 33,200 by 2032. PSW shortages are rising even faster, with demand estimates moving from about 30,900 in 2023 to more than 50,000 by 2032.

This split is important. Nursing offers strong long-term prospects, but it comes with licensing steps that can slow entry into the workforce. PSW roles can often be accessed faster, which is one reason the province may continue to rely on immigrants and internationally experienced care workers to fill urgent gaps.

What this means for immigrants planning a move to Ontario

Ontario’s labour needs are increasingly aligned with immigration selection, especially through Express Entry linked provincial nominations. One prominent pathway for skilled workers is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Human Capital Priorities stream, which searches the Express Entry pool and invites candidates who fit labour market needs. Healthcare backgrounds are frequently targeted in these selections.

In practical terms, the best-positioned candidates tend to be those who can do three things early:

1. Get into the Express Entry pool with a competitive profile.
2. Match work experience to in-demand healthcare occupations.
3. Prepare documentation that reduces delays when an invitation arrives.

The core eligibility pieces applicants should plan around

For the Human Capital Priorities stream, applicants generally need an active Express Entry profile and must qualify under either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class. They also need a competitive Comprehensive Ranking System score, relevant work experience, language test results, proof of funds, and a credible intention to settle in Ontario.

The key takeaway for readers is that Ontario’s interest may be high, but selection still depends on readiness. A strong profile on paper often beats a great background that is missing documents.

Nurses should treat licensing as the real timeline driver

Immigration can open the door, but nursing in Ontario also requires registration steps with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Internationally educated nurses typically move through a credential review, a formal CNO application, and the required exam process such as the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses.

This is where planning pays off. Many newcomers underestimate how long credential assessment and additional requirements can take. Candidates who start these steps early are often able to accept job offers sooner once they arrive, or line up employment options while immigration processing is underway.

A system under stress, and a window for newcomers who prepare

Ontario’s projections paint a clear picture: demand for care is outpacing supply, and the province cannot close that gap through domestic training alone. For immigrants, the opportunity is real, but it is not automatic. The winners in this market will be the applicants who treat immigration and professional licensing as two connected tracks and prepare for both with the same urgency.

For nurses, PSWs, and other healthcare workers looking to build a career in Canada, Ontario’s shortages are becoming a defining story of the decade. They also may be one of the most practical routes into stable work and long-term settlement, especially for those ready to move quickly when invitations and job openings appear.

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