Seniors Care Workers in Canada – Well-below the international average : 100,000 are wanted

Canada’s number of seniors care workers, relative to the senior population receiving care, is well-below the international average.

In Canada, as in many other countries, the growth in the number of nurses and personal support workers providing institutional, residential, home and community care has not kept pace with the growth of the senior population. The number of care workers per 100 seniors has declined from 4.1 in 2010 to 3.4 in 2019, in Canada: well below the international average of 5. In addition, the decline in long-term care (LTC) workers relative to the senior population is larger than the international average over the past decade.

Simply meeting the international average would require recruiting and training about 100,000 more LTC nurses and personal support workers in Canada, or a 45% increase in staffing levels.

Source: Wanted: 100,000 Seniors Care Workers | C.D. Howe Institute | Canada Economy News | Canadian Government Policy