A surge in hiring within the health-care sectors of Alberta and Ontario has been a key factor in driving job growth in Canada. However, experts suggest that this growth may reflect the overall sluggishness of the economy rather than direct improvements in patient care outcomes.
Recent data analyzed by Desjardins Group reveals that the two provinces have collectively added over 100,000 health-care positions, primarily in public institutions, since the onset of the U.S. trade war. This trend aligns with increased funding allocated to the health sector in the provincial budgets of Alberta and Ontario.
According to Desjardins’ examination of provincial budget documents, both Alberta and Ontario had planned to increase health spending by more than $8 billion each in 2026 compared to the previous year. While Ontario budgeted $91.5 billion for health care in the previous year, Alberta allocated $24 billion towards health care initiatives.
Without the significant hiring in the health sector, the national employment landscape would have remained relatively stagnant. This insight was shared by Desjardins’ deputy chief economist, Randall Bartlett, who cautioned against overstating the strength of the Canadian economy based on job numbers alone.
The latest Labor Force Survey data indicates that since March 2025, the health-care and social assistance sector saw the addition of nearly 133,000 jobs nationwide, with a notable focus on hospitals and services for the elderly. This surpasses the job growth in all other sectors combined by adding 118,000 jobs.
The concentrated hiring in Alberta and Ontario reflects their commitment to bolstering public health care services. However, experts caution that simply increasing spending and expanding the workforce may not automatically translate into enhanced patient care quality.
Fiona Clement, director of the Centre for Health Policy at the University of Calgary’s Cummings School of Medicine, stresses that job growth in the health-care sector does not guarantee direct patient interaction. She points out that while there has been a surge in health-care employment, the data from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta indicates limited growth in the number of physicians.
The rise in health-care spending in Alberta and Ontario may be compensating for previous hiring slowdowns, with a portion of the funding earmarked for wage increases for existing staff. Additionally, the provinces are likely preparing for imminent demographic shifts, as a significant number of physicians and other health professionals are expected to retire in the coming years.
Experts emphasize that escalating health-care spending is a common trend driven by population growth and increasing demand for services. Sara Allin, an associate professor of health policy at the University of Toronto, highlights that health spending typically rises over time to meet these demands.
The future trajectory of health-care hiring in Alberta and Ontario seems promising, with projections indicating sustained growth in the sector. Both provinces have allocated additional funds for health care in the upcoming years, foreseeing continued cost escalations due to factors like an aging population.
Alberta anticipates an annual health-care spending growth of around four to five percent, a trend that could be mirrored by other Canadian provinces facing similar health care system demands. The ongoing investments are aimed at addressing evolving health care needs and ensuring sustainability in the face of demographic changes.
Ultimately, the success of the hiring spree in the health-care sector will be judged not just by job numbers but by the tangible outcomes experienced by patients. Taxpayers will be looking for visible improvements in health-care services to gauge the effectiveness of the increased spending and workforce expansion initiatives.
