Skip to main content
Veterinary Workforce Shortage
The Issue
Across Canada, veterinary professionals (veterinarians and veterinary technologists/technicians) are increasingly concerned with the current state of the veterinary profession and its future. A severe shortage of veterinary professionals is negatively impacting the health and well-being of the veterinary workforce and places additional pressures on the level of quality care they can provide for their clients.
Why it Matters
The shortage of veterinary professionals is a worldwide issue. In Canada, clinic owners and other veterinary employers struggle to hire and retain veterinary professionals while maintaining the highest levels of quality care for their clients. Canadian veterinary colleges’ annual graduation rates for veterinarians barely meet the rate of attrition from the profession.
According to the Canadian Occupational Projection System, veterinarians are expected to face labour shortage conditions over the period of 2022-2031 at the national level. The number of job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) for veterinarians are expected to total 5,000, while the number of job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) is expected to total 4,300.
Net annual growth to the veterinary professional base in Canada is essential to retaining veterinary professionals and continuing to provide quality service for veterinary clients. In a highly competitive market for veterinary professionals worldwide, it is imperative to address these Canada-wide shortages urgently.
Please find Related Documents to all information referenced at the bottom of the page.
Veterinary Workforce Study
The CVMA conducted a Veterinary Workforce Research Study in 2020 which examined the current and future supply and demand balance for veterinary services across companion animal, food animal, and equine sectors in Canada. Read the full study here.
Workforce Advisory Group
CVMA Action
The CVMA has initiated the Veterinary Workforce Project to assist and support veterinary stakeholders in identifying and delivering solutions to both veterinary workforce shortages and workplace well-being.
Practice Management Research Articles
A set of research articles offering information to improve veterinary team member retention and service delivery have been selected and reviewed for CVMA members. These recent articles explore topics such as cost of treatment, utilization of veterinary technologists, veterinary healthcare team dynamics, communications with companion animal owners, and other key areas and activities. Additional articles will be added as they are identified and validated for their relevance to veterinary practices. Please share relevant articles with Mike Bradshaw, CVMA’s Workforce Supply project manager.