Job prospects Patient Care Assistant in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "patient care assistant" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102) in Quebec for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

There is a high demand for this occupation due to the aging population, growing needs in long-term care, and government health priorities.

For several years now, the government has been taking targeted measures to improve healthcare services and make them more accessible to the population. Improvements to home care and the opening of some additional seniors' homes will drive the demand for this occupation.

To work in this profession, employers typically require a diploma of vocational studies in assistance in healthcare facilities or in home care assistance. CPR certification and successful completion of training in safe patient transfer principles may also be required.

Faced with significant staffing needs, the government implemented measures to facilitate recruitment, which include accelerated training and scholarships.

Here are some key facts about Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates in Quebec:

• Approximately 68,450 people work in this occupation.
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 47%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 36%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 76% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 24% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 61% of nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 17% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 83% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 9% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 20% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 44% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 17% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 7% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "patient care assistant" in Québec or across Canada.

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