Growing Demand for Personal Support Workers Continues Across Ontario

Canada’s healthcare system continues to rely heavily on Personal Support Workers, with recent government labour-market data showing favourable employment prospects for PSWs across Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area.

As Canada’s population grows and ages, the need for workers who can support seniors, patients and individuals requiring assistance with daily living continues to play an important role in the healthcare workforce.

Government data shows continued demand

According to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, the employment outlook for home support workers, caregivers and related occupations in Ontario is rated Good for the 2025–2027 period.

The federal labour-market assessment identifies two important factors behind the outlook:

• employment growth is expected to create new positions; and
• additional positions are expected to become available as existing workers retire.

The outlook is particularly strong in several regions of Ontario.

For Personal Support Workers working in nursing care, the Toronto Region currently has a Very Good employment outlook for 2025–2027.

PSWs remain a major part of Canada’s healthcare workforce

Statistics Canada has also highlighted the importance of Personal Support Workers within Canada’s healthcare labour market.

In a December 2025 analysis of health-related occupations, Statistics Canada reported that nurses and PSWs together accounted for 69.5% of job vacancies in health-related occupations in 2024.

The analysis grouped PSWs across occupations including nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates, home support workers and caregivers working within healthcare settings.

This highlights the significant role that support workers continue to play across hospitals, long-term care, residential facilities and community-based healthcare.

Demand driven by an aging population

One of the most important long-term factors affecting the PSW profession is Canada’s aging population.

The Government of Canada’s Job Bank identifies population growth and aging as important drivers of demand for workers who provide assistance to:

• seniors;
• persons with disabilities;
• individuals recovering from illness; and
• clients receiving support in their own homes.

As more Canadians require assistance with personal care, mobility, daily activities and community-based healthcare, PSWs are expected to remain an important part of the healthcare system.

PSW opportunities in the Toronto Region

Government labour-market information shows that approximately 11,380 people work in home support, caregiving and related occupations in the Toronto Region.

These workers are employed across several areas of the healthcare and social-services system, including:

• nursing and residential care facilities;
• home and community-care organizations;
• hospitals and ambulatory healthcare services;
• social-assistance organizations; and
• private home-care environments.

For students interested in entering healthcare, PSW training can provide preparation for employment across a range of care settings.

Preparing for a career in personal support work

Personal Support Workers provide direct assistance to individuals who may need support with daily activities, personal care, mobility and general wellbeing.

The work can take place in long-term-care homes, retirement residences, hospitals, community-care organizations and private residences.

Training typically focuses on practical caregiving skills, communication, safety, assisting with activities of daily living and understanding the needs of different clients.

As Ontario continues to respond to the healthcare needs of an aging population, trained support workers are expected to remain an important part of the province’s healthcare workforce.

Personal Support Worker training at Toronto Academy of Education

Toronto Academy of Education offers Personal Support Worker training designed to prepare students with the practical knowledge and skills needed to work in healthcare and community-care environments.

Students interested in learning more about the PSW program can contact our admissions team for information about upcoming classes, admission requirements and program delivery.

Sources: Government of Canada Job Bank and Statistics Canada labour-market information, 2025–2026.