Job prospects Registered Nurse (R.N.) in Nunavut

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "registered nurse (R.N.)" in Nunavut or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nunavut

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Very good

The employment outlook will be very good for Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301) in Nunavut 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.
High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

Persistent staffing shortages and a growing population will keep demand high for these occupations in Nunavut over the forecast period.
Staffing shortages created periodic disruptions in health care services throughout Nunavut in 2024.
Housing shortages and high travel costs make the recruitment and retention of nurses in Nunavut challenging.
Permanent and locum nursing positions were available throughout 2024 at the hospital and clinic in Iqaluit, the regional health centres in Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay, as well as at community health centres.
The Government of Nunavut aims to increase the number of Inuit nursing graduates over the forecast period, as outlined in the Roadmap to Strengthen the Nunavut Nursing Workforce (2021-2026).
Nunavut's Budget 2024-2025 includes an increase of $15 million for agency nursing contracts. This funding may increase employment opportunities for this occupation.
Looking beyond the forecast period, the Conference Board of Canada (2024) predicts that this occupation will be in the top five in terms of number of open positions of all occupations in Nunavut from 2024 to 2045, with 354 expected openings.

Here are some key facts about Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses in Nunavut:

Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses mainly work in the following sectors:
- Health care and social services (NAICS 62): 81%
- Public Administration and Defence (NAICS 91): 19%
82% of registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses work all year, while 18% work only part of the year, compared to 72% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 44 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 16% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 84% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: n/a
- high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 22% compared to 15% for all occupations
- bachelor's degree: 59% compared to 10% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 16% compared to 6% for all occupations