A surge in hiring within the health-care sectors of Alberta and Ontario has been crucial in supporting Canada’s overall job market growth. However, experts suggest that this uptick may reflect the sluggish performance of other economic sectors rather than directly improving patient care.
According to a recent report by Desjardins Group analyzing Statistics Canada data, the two provinces have collectively added over 100,000 health-care jobs, primarily in public institutions, since the onset of the U.S. trade war. This trend aligns with increased funding allocated to the health-care sector in the provincial budgets of Alberta and Ontario for 2026, with each province planning to spend over $8 billion more compared to the previous year.
Without the substantial health-care hiring, the national employment landscape would have remained relatively stagnant, as noted by Desjardins deputy chief economist Randall Bartlett. This challenges the notion of a robust Canadian economy.
Labor Force Survey data reveals that since March 2025, nearly 133,000 jobs were created in the health-care and social assistance sector nationwide, surpassing the combined job growth in all other sectors. The emphasis on hiring in hospitals and elderly care services has been prominent.
Alberta and Ontario’s concerted efforts to boost health-care spending align with their goals of enhancing public health care services. However, experts caution that increased spending and job creation in the health-care industry do not automatically translate to improved patient care quality.
Fiona Clement, from the University of Calgary’s Cummings School of Medicine, highlights that not all health-care sector jobs directly impact patient care. In Alberta, restructuring the health authority into four agencies has led to workforce expansion, although the focus may not necessarily be on frontline patient services.
The push for increased health-care hiring may also be influenced by anticipated demographic shifts, with a significant number of health professionals expected to retire in the coming years. Rising per capita health-care spending is a common trend due to population growth, although the actual impact on service quality is a complex matter.
Looking ahead, Desjardins anticipates that the hiring momentum in the health-care sector will persist in Alberta and Ontario, driven by ongoing demands and demographic changes. The projected annual health-care spending growth in Alberta, around four to five percent, may set a benchmark for other Canadian provinces.
Ultimately, the success of the extensive health-care hiring spree will be measured not just by job numbers but by tangible improvements in patient outcomes. Taxpayers will be looking for concrete results and enhanced health-care services as a testament to the effectiveness of increased public spending in the sector.
