Study finds Quebec has a higher ratio of health care workers per capita compared to 30 years ago

In a recent study conducted by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS), it was found that there is no shortage of workers in the health care industry when considering the entire health workforce in both the private and public systems. However, there has been a significant shift of public employees to the private sector, leading to a labor shortage in the public sector.

The study, published by researcher Anne Plourde, revealed that the total health and social services workforce per capita was 35% higher in 2022 compared to 30 years ago. This increase translates to 132,000 more people working in the sector than in 1991.

Plourde’s analysis also highlighted the impact of the aging population on health care needs. People aged 65 and over represent 20% of the population but account for 47% of health spending, emphasizing the importance of addressing the needs of this demographic.

While there is a shortage of nurses and stagnation in the number of doctors per capita, Plourde emphasized the need for a more balanced approach between curative care and prevention in the health system. She also pointed out that the recent health system reforms in Quebec have contributed to a deterioration of working conditions, leading to an increase in overtime and a shortage of personnel in the public sector.

Moving forward, Plourde believes that addressing the workforce shortage in the public network and repatriating employees from the private sector are crucial steps to ensure the sustainability of the health care system in Quebec.