Specialist Physicians - NOC 3111

If you are interested in working as a Specialist Physician in Canada, you will be pleased to know that the job outlook for your occupation in Canada is extremely positive. You can use this overview of the Canadian employment prospects in your field to start planning your immigration and settlement in Canada.

• To view current number of applications received toward the cap, click here.

Why your employment prospects in Canada are excellent:

• The demand for physicians will continue to increase because our aging population will require more health care services.
• Also, additional specialists may be required as our health care system continues to acquire more advanced medical equipment.
• Specialist physicians may work in clinical practice or in medical research. Specialists find employment with hospitals, community health centres, clinics, medical laboratories, or in private practice.

Some areas of Canada where your occupation is in demand:

• Estimated employment in 2010 is 4,510.
• Projected new jobs between 2010-2015 estimated at 480.
• Projected job creation due to retirements is 640.
• Majority (71%) of specialist physicians work in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
• Employment prospects are considered to be good in the following regions: Thompson Okanagan Kootenay Area, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and Northern British Columbia.

• While there is a shortage across the province, the Athabasca, Grande Prairie, Peace River and Red Deer regions are in especially in need of specialist physicians.

• One of the challenges facing Saskatchewan is the age of many specialist physicians. In 2006, 53% of all Saskatchewan specialists were 45 years of age or older. As these older physicians retire, more jobs will become available.
• In addition, an aging Saskatchewan population will increase demand for medical services and therefore specialist physicians.

• Employment prospects for specialist physicians are predicted to be good through 2013.
• Employment in Manitoba was estimated at 1,125 in 2009.
• There are shortages of specialist physicians in various fields, such as anaesthesia, psychiatry, radiology, and radiation oncology and orthopaedics.
• The provincial government has introduced a specialist recruitment program that offers a $15,000 signing bonus to specialists who come to Manitoba. The program has been successful in bringing specialist physicians to practise in the province.
• Specialist physicians are located throughout the province, although employment is concentrated in Winnipeg.

• There is currently a large demand for physicians in Ontario.
• This demand is expected to grow, due to the growing and ageing population. In addition, a substantial number of jobs will be created each year from the need to replace physicians who retire.
• Job opportunities will be better for individuals with training in anesthesiology, obstetrics/gynecology, pathology, psychiatry and oncology.

• Locally job prospects are good for specialist physicians in the Waterloo region.
• The specialties that offer the best prospects in this region are: radiation oncology, psychiatry, surgery, emergency medicine, cardiology, geriatrics, pediatrics anesthesia and internal medicine.

• Employment prospects are considered to be good int his region.
• There is a significant shortage of physicians in Northwestern Ontario, and any specialists serving Northwestern Ontario are not even located permanently in the area.

• Employment opportunities for Specialist Physicians are good in the London-Woodstock area.
• There are reported shortages of specialist physicians in various fields, including radiation oncology.
• London has a medical school, teaching hospitals and regional health care centers, which all add to the demand for specialists.
• In addition, this occupation has a large number of older workers. Around 43% of workers in this occupation are over 45 years of age.

• Currently, employment prospects are good in the Hamilton area.
• Hamilton is a regional health care centre with a medical school and teaching hospitals.
• There is a particularly high need for psychiatrists, dermatologists and pathologists in Hamilton.

• The Niagara Health System's specialist recruiter states there is a continued need for emergency room (ER) specialists and psychiatrists in the Niagara Area.

• Practice opportunities for specialist physicians are good in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk area.
• Demand for specialists in this area continues to exceed supply, particularly in towns outside Brantford.

• Employment prospects are good in this area because there has been a shortage of specialist physicians for a number of years; in addition an aging population continues to increase the demand for health services.
• The Annapolis Valley area appears to offer better opportunities than many other rural areas in Nova Scotia for specialist physicians such as urologists, psychiatrists, internal medicine, anesthetists, etc.

• There is currently a shortage of specialist physicians in this region.

• This occupation is in shortage in New Brunswick, as it is across Canada.
• There are particularly good prospects in the following NB regions: Moncton, Fredericton, Saint
• John and Campellton.

• The outlook for specialist physicians is good.
• There is a shortage of physicians across Canada, and there continues to be a demand for additional specialist physicians across P.E.I.
• Expansion plans and additional requirements created by retirements are expected to create a significant number of positions through to 2011.
• Securing enough physicians to meet demand continues to be a significant challenge in P.E.I.
• Various incentive programs are available to medical students and physicians who may be considering a move to P.E.I. More information can be found at the Health Recruitment and Retention Secretariat website at www.gov.pe.ca/health
• Most of the specialist physicians in P.E.I. practice at the Island's primary referral center, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

• Employment opportunities are good in this province.