Health Care and Social Assistance Industry

October 2008

The Health Care and Social Assistance industry employed about 189,500 people in 2007. The industry is expected to grow by a yearly average of 2.9 per cent, employing about 219,000 by 2012. The 2007 unemployment rate was 1.6 per cent (the average for all industries was 3.5 per cent).

The Health Care and Social Assistance industry includes establishments and services such as:

· hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities and out-patient care centres

· offices of health practitioners (for example, dentists, doctors, optometrists and chiropractors)

· medical and diagnostic laboratories

· home health care services

· ambulance services

· social assistance services (for children, youth, the elderly, families, etc.)

· community food, housing, emergency and relief services

· vocational rehabilitation services

· daycare services.

Industry Outlook

Information adapted from the Health Care and Social Assistance Industry profile (September 2008)

Alberta’s Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook (2007-2017) forecasts supply shortages in the following occupations from 2007 to 2017:

· therapy and assessment professionals

· physicians, dentists and veterinarians

· optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals

· pharmacists, dieticians and nutritionists

· nurse supervisors and registered nurses

· technical occupations in health care (including dental)

· medical technologists and technicians.

Assisting occupations in support of health services will start experiencing a supply shortage in 2010.

Information adapted from Alberta Career and Industry Outlook (August 2008)

As skills shortages persist, demand is expected to remain high for a number of key occupations in the industry (see above). An anticipated doctor shortage is particularly challenging. While many physicians are getting ready to retire, new graduates are showing a lack of interest in taking over the family practices being vacated. Countrywide, the trend toward a shortage of registered nurses also is likely to continue as retirees are not being replaced by new workers.

In the spring of 2007, the Alberta Medical Association stated that Alberta may require a thousand or more physicians over the next three to five years as a result of the province’s increasing population and patient loads. To help fill the gap, the AMA ratified a trilateral financial agreement between Alberta Health and Wellness and the Alberta regional health authorities dedicated to the recruitment and retention of doctors. The agreement focuses on key issues including underserviced areas and special funding for increased overhead costs for professional practices.

Work in this industry

Alberta occupational profiles that describe various types of work in this industry are listed in OCCinfo's Search by Industry: Health Care and Social Assistance