Top Career Pathways in Canada: Healthcare Leads for PNP & Immigrants

Healthcare Careers Lead for International Students in Canada: Study Shows Stronger Job Alignment Than STEM or Business

• Healthcare grads in Canada show the highest job alignment rates compared to STEM and business graduates
• Bachelor’s-level healthcare education offers the strongest career alignment for international students
• International STEM grads educated in Canada outperform Canadian-born peers in job alignment
• Higher levels of education generally increase alignment, especially when degrees are earned in Canada
• Despite lower alignment, STEM grads enjoy excellent employment outcomes and low unemployment
• Graduates with Canadian education are more likely to work in fields related to their studies

When international students come to Canada with dreams of building a new life, one of their biggest priorities is finding a job that matches their education. A recent Statistics Canada study has shed light on which fields of study offer the best chances of doing just that — and healthcare has come out on top.

According to the study, healthcare graduates are far more likely to end up working in roles directly related to their studies than those who pursued STEM or business programs. Curious about why that is? Let’s dive deeper into the findings of this fascinating report and what it might mean for your future in Canada.

What Does “Job Alignment” Mean, Anyway?

Before we go any further, let’s clarify what we mean by “alignment.” In this study, job alignment refers to how closely a person’s occupation matches their field of study. So, a nursing graduate working as a nurse would be considered “aligned,” while an engineering grad working in retail would not.

Healthcare Grads See the Strongest Study-to-Work Alignment

Among all the major fields, healthcare stood out as the leader — with an average alignment rate of 56.7%. That’s significantly higher than STEM graduates (43.0%) and business and administration grads (35.2%).

Here’s a quick snapshot of alignment rates across the three broad fields:

Even when breaking STEM down into its specialized areas, healthcare still came out ahead. For example, graduates in engineering had a 47.3% alignment rate, and those in computer science had 47.9%, both falling short of healthcare’s performance.

STEM Grads Still Perform Well — Especially When Educated in Canada

Now, although healthcare leads in alignment, STEM grads shouldn’t be discouraged. In fact, when international students earned their STEM degrees in Canada, their alignment rates shot up — even outperforming Canadian-born STEM grads by a full 16 percentage points.

So if you’re an international student considering a STEM program in Canada, the odds are still very much in your favour — especially if you plan to stay and work afterward.

Level and Location of Education Matter a Lot

One of the strongest trends in the report was the importance of where and how far you go in your education. The higher your level of study — particularly if completed in Canada — the more likely you are to find work related to your field.

Interestingly, healthcare grads didn’t see as much of a boost from studying in Canada as STEM or business grads did. That might suggest that healthcare credentials tend to transfer better across borders or that healthcare systems are more standardized globally.

STEM Grads Have Excellent Employment Outcomes — Even When Unaligned

Even though STEM grads had lower alignment rates than healthcare grads, they still experienced lower unemployment and stronger job prospects overall. Many STEM grads who didn’t work in their specific field still found employment in medium-skilled (TEER 2 and 3) roles, rather than low-skilled jobs.

Quick tip: The TEER system (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) is part of Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system. TEER 0 is the highest-skilled category (think management positions), while TEER 5 includes jobs that require little to no formal education.

Where Do Unaligned Grads End Up?

Graduates who didn’t land jobs directly related to their field often ended up in completely different sectors. Business grads were the most likely to make this kind of shift, with nearly half (49.3%) moving into “other” occupations.

Healthcare grads were the least likely to switch fields entirely, with just 27.4% of them working in unrelated areas. That’s another indicator of strong job alignment and a promising path forward for those pursuing healthcare studies in Canada.

Higher Education = Better Alignment (Mostly)

For STEM and business students, higher education levels generally meant better alignment with their eventual careers. But for healthcare students, the sweet spot seemed to be at the bachelor’s level. Surprisingly, alignment actually dipped for healthcare grads with education above the bachelor’s level.

Here’s a look at alignment by education level:

Canadian Education Makes a Big Difference for Immigrants

Another compelling finding? International students who studied in Canada and then became permanent residents had significantly stronger job alignment than those who received their education abroad. That means studying in Canada doesn’t just help with immigration — it also boosts your career prospects.

If you’re considering applying to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) or another immigration stream, having Canadian education on your record could be a big plus.

Final Thoughts: Healthcare Is a Winning Choice

If you’re an international student planning your future in Canada, healthcare fields might just offer the most direct path to a fulfilling, relevant job after graduation. That said, STEM careers also offer great employment opportunities, especially if you’re earning your credentials here in Canada.

No matter your field, investing in a Canadian education — especially at the bachelor’s level or higher — can go a long way toward building a successful and aligned career in the Great White North.

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