More than one-third of immigrants who came to Canada intending to work as nurses were not employed in the profession by 2021, according to a new joint study from Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The report, released Sept. 24, examined the career outcomes of economic-class principal applicants admitted between 2010 and 2020 who said at the time of arrival they intended to work as nurses.
Intentions versus outcomes
The study found that 63 per cent of those intending to work as nurses were employed in nursing roles in 2021. Another 25 per cent worked in lower-skilled health or non-health jobs, or were unemployed.
By contrast, among immigrants working as nurses in 2021, only 35 per cent had originally intended to enter the field. The other 65 per cent did not indicate nursing as their target occupation before immigrating, but later joined the profession after becoming permanent residents.
“These results highlight the dynamic nature of immigrants’ career pathways,” the report said.
Factors influencing outcomes
Pre-admission Canadian work experience strongly increased the chances of immigrants securing nursing roles. The alignment rate was 28 percentage points higher for those with prior Canadian work experience compared to those without.
Canadian study experience also improved employment alignment, though the effect was smaller after adjusting for other factors.
Demographic differences also played a role. Women and younger applicants were more likely to secure nursing jobs. English-speaking immigrants had higher alignment rates than those admitted with French or bilingual status. Immigrants with bachelor’s degrees had better outcomes than those with less education.
Regional differences were notable: immigrants from Asia—who made up 84 per cent of those intending to work as nurses—had lower employment alignment than those from the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and the United States.
Shaping the nursing workforce
The study also highlighted differences between immigrants who intended to work as nurses and those who entered the profession later. The latter group was more likely to be younger at admission, less likely to work full time, and earned lower weekly wages. They were also more likely to have received their highest education in Canada.
In 2021, immigrant nurses who had intended to work in the field earned an average of $2,418 per week, compared with $1,740 among those who had not originally planned on a nursing career.
The findings underscore the importance of policies supporting credential recognition and work experience opportunities for internationally educated nurses, the report said.
