In Canada, there is a growing demand for healthcare professionals across various fields due to an aging population and advancements in medical technology. Some of the most in-demand healthcare jobs require professionals with the highest qualifications - after all, these professions play a crucial role in providing quality care to patients and supporting the healthcare system's overall functionality. Along with the rise of chronic conditions, specialized roles are also experiencing an increase in demand in the healthcare industry. As the need for skilled healthcare professionals continues to rise, those pursuing careers in these fields can expect numerous job opportunities and competitive salaries in the Canadian healthcare sector.
In this article, we will discuss the many options that you could choose from, especially when pursuing a career in healthcare services. We will also tackle the levels of eligibility or the types of additional training required for certain types of jobs in healthcare settings.
Below are the top five in-demand healthcare careers in Canada right now, what the corresponding salaries are, and how job stability is for particular niches or specializations as well. If you're also planning on a career shift - e.g. physiotherapists transitioning to becoming physical therapists - then you can also gauge which subfields to get into right here.
Because of the aging population, advancements in medical technology, and urgent responses to public health crises, there is a growing demand for healthcare professionals in Canada. Below are the most in-demand healthcare job options in Canada:
The RN position is possibly the most in-demand position in the country due to a variety of factors, such as an aging population, increased rates of chronic illnesses, and a growing emphasis on preventative healthcare. As the largest group of healthcare professionals in the country, registered nurses provide essential medical care to patients across various settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centers, and private practices.
Registered nurses are also known for getting involved in handling diagnostic tests, becoming more than just a physician assistant, helps out in treatment plans for utmost patient care, should be able to relocate to anywhere in the country, practice good communication skills, and be an overall ace in healthcare management. When it comes to wages for registered nurses, you will find that it varies in each province, however, the average cross Canada low end wage is $26.28 per hour and the average high-end wage is $48.37 per hour.
If you're ready to apply to a nursing program in Ontario, then Caring Support can help point you in the right direction.
Much like the RN occupation, licensed practical nurses are in high demand across the country. As the health care evolves everyday, LPNs are expected to deliver basic nursing care, assist registered nurses with medical procedures. The scope of practice of these nurse practitioners also includes administering medications, monitoring vital signs, dressing wounds, providing emotional support, and extending empathy to patients and their families.
With healthcare facilities across the country facing staffing shortages, LPNs are essential in ensuring that patients receive timely and effective care. The demand for LPNs is expected to remain strong in the coming years, making it a promising career choice for individuals interested in entering the healthcare field. As for salary, licensed practical nurses can expect to make an average of $22.00/hour to $33.23/hour, depending on skills and experience.
Personal support workers are expected to give essential care and assistance to those who are unable to perform daily tasks independently. These dedicated professionals possess specialized skills that enable them to deliver personalized care, such as helping with personal hygiene, medication management, and mobility support.
In addition to their technical skills, PSWs demonstrate empathy, compassion, and patience in their interactions with clients, fostering trust and creating a supportive environment.
Right now, the demand for personal support workers (also can be known as home support workers) is significantly high as well, that there are colleges offering free tuition for students to take this program and help fill the numerous open positions across Canada. The average personal support worker's salary in Canada is $37,050 a year, which equals $19 per hour.
Like it happens in every other career, entry-level workers with one to four years' experience make less money, around $34,000, while workers with more than 10 years of seniority make more, around $45,000. If you want to know more, Caring Support has many articles dedicated to providing you with all the information you need to go after a career as a PSW.
Canada also needs medical administrative assistants, which work at the front desk of most healthcare clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings. Some tasks include ensuring the smooth operation of healthcare settings by managing patient records, scheduling appointments, and handling billing and insurance claims. Aside from this, advancements in technology have also led to increased complexities in medical record-keeping and billing processes, further driving up the demand for well-trained medical administrative assistants.
If you're just starting out as a medical administrative assistant, low-end wages will be in line with minimum wage. But as your skills and competencies increase, your wages could increase up to an average of $28.89/hour or more, depending on where in the country you decide to pursue your career.
For occupational therapists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment, this is the perfect time for a healthcare system to evolve and prioritize holistic care and preventive measures. Occupational therapists are involved in promoting health and well-being through interventions that enable patients to participate in meaningful activities. The demand for occupational therapists is also driven by advances in technology, which have created new opportunities for therapists to work with clients virtually or use innovative tools to deliver therapy services.
After completing a university degree in occupational therapy, including supervised fieldwork required for graduation from an occupational therapy program approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), you can expect your starting wage to be, on average, $31.25/hour and an average salary of $49.63/hour or more once you have more experience. With the increased complexities in medical record-keeping and billing processes, further driving up the demand for well-trained medical administrative assistants.
For healthcare jobs that are in demand, everything you need is on the Caring Support website. The Caring Support blog is here to help you with informative and educational articles written for all healthcare workers and employers for every stage of their healthcare career journey. You can also gain more information and listen to captivating interviews with other healthcare professionals on the Caring Support Podcast.
If you're ready to begin your search for a new healthcare career, Caring Support is here to help you make that process quick and easy with our mobile-friendly healthcare job search app. We even have a built-in resume builder to help you quickly and easily create a fully customizable resume for FREE with your Caring Support account.
Caring Support should be your top choice due to our extensive network of reputable healthcare facilities and job opportunities. We carefully vet each healthcare organization before partnering with them to ensure that our users have access to high-quality positions in a variety of specialties. Caring Support offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily search for, apply to, and track your job applications all in one place.
Additionally, we provide valuable resources such as resume-writing tips, interview preparation guides, and career development tools to support you in achieving your professional goals. With our dedication to connecting talented healthcare professionals with leading employers, choosing our platform promises a seamless and successful job search experience tailored to your needs. Create an account at Caring Support today, or log in if you have an account already.
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