Nursing job vacancies across Canada have tripled in five years, rising from approximately 13,178 in 2018 to 41,716 in 2023, according to a new report by the Montreal Economic Institute. The data comes as SEIU Healthcare negotiates a new contract with the Ontario Hospital Association that will affect tens of thousands of hospital workers.
SEIU Healthcare represents 68,000 healthcare workers in Ontario, including more than 8,000 nurses. Safe staffing is a key priority in the ongoing bargaining talks, according to the union.
Nurses leaving the profession
The report cites Canadian Institute for Health Information data showing that 6.4 per cent of nurses declined to re-register to practise in 2024. Evidence from jurisdictions that have implemented safe staffing ratios shows an increase in nurses returning to the profession, according to the report.
“We need safe staffing in our hospitals, and the OHA needs to be part of the solution,” said SEIU Healthcare President Tyler Downey. “Our members show up every day to deliver exceptional care under impossible conditions. The OHA must finally recognize that safe staffing isn’t a bargaining slogan, it’s the foundation of quality care and strong hospitals. When workers have the support they need, patients benefit too.”
Union addresses barriers for internationally educated nurses
SEIU Healthcare nurses continue to report unsafe staffing levels, an increase in workplace violence and deteriorating morale, according to the union. The union has taken steps to increase qualified nurses in Ontario through the SEIU Healthcare Training Centre’s Internationally Educated Nurse Career Pathway Program, which is designed to break down systemic barriers that internationally educated nurses face when entering the Canadian healthcare system.
The union says the Ontario Hospital Association must do more to improve staffing in hospitals to ensure safety for both workers and patients.
Impact on patient care and staff retention
“Nurses are burning out because our hospitals keep stretching them beyond safe limits,” said SEIU Nurses President Sandi Jones. “Every vacancy that isn’t filled means heavier workloads, longer wait times for patients to access care, and increased risk for both patients and staff. Nurses want to stay and provide the care their patients deserve, but without safe staffing commitments from the OHA, we’re losing too many skilled professionals. Safe staffing saves lives, it’s that simple.”
The contract negotiations will impact the working conditions and staffing levels for tens of thousands of hospital workers across Ontario.
