A surge in hiring within the health-care systems of Alberta and Ontario has been instrumental in sustaining Canada’s national job market. However, this growth may reflect more on the sluggish state of the overall economy than on enhanced patient outcomes.
According to a study by Desjardins Group analyzing Statistics Canada data, the two provinces have collectively added over 100,000 health-care positions, primarily in public institutions, since the early stages of the U.S. trade war. This trend aligns with increased funding allocated to the sector in the budgets of Alberta and Ontario. Budget analysis by Desjardins reveals that both provinces planned to invest over $8 billion more in health care in 2026 compared to 2025.
Without this hiring activity, the employment landscape in Canada would have remained relatively stagnant. The report’s author, Desjardins deputy chief economist Randall Bartlett, emphasized that claims of a robust Canadian economy may be somewhat misguided. Data from the Labour Force Survey indicates a significant increase in health-care and social assistance jobs since March 2025, with hiring predominantly concentrated in hospitals and elderly care services.
Alberta and Ontario are evidently committed to policies aimed at bolstering public health care through increased spending, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the system. However, experts caution that merely expanding the workforce and boosting spending in health care do not automatically translate to improved patient services.
Fiona Clement, director of the Centre for Health Policy at the University of Calgary’s Cummings School of Medicine, highlights the importance of recognizing that not all health-care sector jobs involve direct patient care. Alberta’s restructuring of its health authority into multiple agencies has led to workforce growth, although there is limited evidence of a substantial increase in physicians in the province.
The surge in health-care spending in Alberta and Ontario may be attributed to various factors, including the need to compensate for slower past hiring, provide wage increases to existing staff, and prepare for anticipated demographic shifts. The continuous rise in health-care spending is a common trend driven by increasing demand as populations expand.
Experts stress that the complexity of health-care systems at the provincial level requires a nuanced understanding of evolving demographics, regional disparities, and fluctuating service demands. While the current hiring spree signals ongoing investments in health care, the effectiveness of these initiatives will ultimately be measured by tangible improvements in patient outcomes.
