Occupational Therapy Is Growing Faster Than Supply Can Meet

Canada’s occupational therapy profession is in a growth phase that employment numbers cannot keep pace with. Hospitals are expanding OT services. Long-term care facilities, facing demographic pressures from aging populations, desperately need occupational therapists to support residents. Schools are recognizing the need for occupational therapy in inclusive education programs. Community health settings are creating new roles in collaborative primary care models. Meanwhile, the number of OTs graduating from Canadian programs remains constrained.

The result: one thousand occupational therapist positions open annually across Canada, with moderate shortage risk projected through 2033. For occupational therapists seeking positions, demand remains robust across all major employment settings. For facilities and school boards trying to fill openings, the challenge is finding qualified candidates.

This guide maps where occupational therapist jobs are in Canada, which settings show the strongest demand, why that demand exists, and what the job market looks like for OT professionals in 2026.

The National Picture: 10,000 Job Openings, Moderate Shortage Risk

COPS Projections 2024-2033

According to the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS), occupational therapists face a MODERATE RISK OF SHORTAGE over the period 2024-2033. The occupation is expected to face ten thousand job openings during this ten-year span, translating to an average of one thousand positions per year.

These job openings come from two sources: job creation (expansion demand as healthcare systems and schools invest in occupational therapy services) and replacement demand (OTs retiring, relocating, or leaving the profession). COPS data indicates approximately seventy percent of openings will be from job creation—a significantly higher proportion than average occupations. This reflects genuine growth in OT-dependent services, not just turnover replacement.

Over the same period, ten thousand four hundred job seekers are expected to enter the occupation from new graduates, immigrant professionals, and workers transitioning from other fields. While these numbers appear to slightly exceed openings, the MODERATE SHORTAGE designation reflects recent years’ strong shortage conditions and the reality that geographic distribution mismatches exist, shortages in rural areas coexist with more competitive markets in major urban centers.

Real Growth: Hospital Employment Rising

Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) data shows twelve thousand two hundred thirty-three occupational therapists were employed in direct patient care in Canada in 2024. This represents an annual growth rate of four point one percent—substantially above average for healthcare professions. More significantly, hospital-based OT employment grew by seven percent in 2024 alone, with three hundred sixty-six additional positions created in hospital settings.

This means hospitals are actively expanding OT services, not simply replacing departing staff. New programs, growing rehabilitation services, and expanded mental health and addiction services are creating net increases in OT positions.

Where Occupational Therapist Jobs Are: By Setting

Hospitals: The Largest Employment Setting

Approximately eighty-four percent of occupational therapists in Canadian hospitals work in ambulatory health care services or hospital settings. Hospital-based OT positions encompass multiple specializations: rehabilitation services for patients recovering from stroke, spinal injury, or orthopedic surgery; mental health and addiction services supporting clients managing psychiatric conditions or substance use disorders; geriatric services for aging patients facing mobility and cognitive changes; pediatric services for children with developmental delays or disabilities; and acute care support for hospitalized patients requiring functional assessment and intervention.

Hospital demand is driven by several factors. Aging populations increase hospital admissions for conditions requiring rehabilitation. Efforts to reduce opioid misuse by supporting alternative pain management approaches have expanded mental health and addiction OT services. Hospital systems are investing in rehabilitation programs to reduce patient length of stay and support faster functional recovery and community discharge.

Job Bank data shows GOOD employment outlooks for occupational therapists in major urban regions. Ontario shows GOOD outlook, with employment growth expected to lead several new positions. The Toronto region specifically shows GOOD employment outlook with approximately two thousand five hundred ten OTs currently employed. Nova Scotia shows GOOD employment outlook driven by aging population and long-term care expansion.

Long-Term Care and Nursing Facilities: Rapid Growth Sector

Long-term care facilities represent approximately twenty-five percent of OT employment in many provinces. Canada is facing a long-term care crisis—facilities are understaffed, underfunded, and unable to meet resident care needs. Occupational therapy addresses this challenge by helping residents maintain functional independence, manage cognitive decline in dementia care, and support activities of daily living despite aging and disability.

Long-term care employment is growing rapidly because facility operators finally recognize occupational therapy’s value. With residents living longer and more complex needs, facilities that invest in OT services see improved resident outcomes, reduced falls, better nutritional intake, and improved quality of life. Regulatory pressures in multiple provinces are requiring minimum staffing standards including allied health professionals, further driving OT hiring.

Long-term care OT positions are often available in smaller communities and rural regions. This represents an opportunity for OTs seeking work outside major urban centers. Relocation challenges exist, but facilities in rural long-term care settings actively recruit, as do senior living communities and assisted living facilities.

Schools and Educational Settings

School-based occupational therapy is growing as inclusive education models expand across Canada. School boards increasingly recognize that children with developmental delays, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions benefit from occupational therapy supporting success in classroom environments. OTs in schools assess fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-care abilities, and social participation; they develop interventions supporting children’s academic performance and social integration.

School-based OT positions are concentrated in urban and suburban school boards with larger student populations and greater resources. However, rural schools are increasingly hiring OTs as demand grows and funding becomes available. School positions often include some flexibility (summers off, aligned with school calendar) compared to healthcare settings. Competition for school positions is significant because of this perceived flexibility, but demand remains robust across Canada.

Community Care and Home-Based Services

Community occupational therapists work in home care programs, community health centers, rehabilitation clinics, and private practice settings. This setting encompasses approximately fifteen percent of OT employment but represents some of the fastest-growing segments. Community OTs support aging in place—helping seniors remain in their homes despite functional decline—through home modifications, adaptive equipment recommendations, and compensatory strategy training.

Community care demand is driven by healthcare system efforts to shift care from institutions to community settings. Supporting people in their homes is cost-effective and aligns with patient preferences. As aging populations grow, community-based occupational therapy services expand accordingly.

Community-based OT positions offer flexibility unmatched in hospital or long-term care settings. Many community OTs work as independent practitioners or contractors, setting their own schedules and caseloads. This flexibility attracts experienced OTs seeking work-life balance while maintaining clinical practice.

Why Demand for Occupational Therapists Is Rising

Aging Population and Dementia Care

Canada’s population is aging faster than any other demographic shift in the country. Statistics Canada projects continued growth in the sixty-five-plus age group through 2050. Aging brings functional decline—vision loss, hearing decline, reduced mobility, cognitive changes, balance disturbance. Occupational therapy helps aging adults maintain independence despite these changes. Dementia care increasingly relies on occupational therapy to support behavioral management, reduce wandering, support orientation, and help caregivers manage the demands of dementia support.

Long-term care facilities caring for this aging population face staffing challenges and quality pressures. Occupational therapists improve outcomes and reduce behavioral crises in dementia care. As facility regulations increasingly require allied health presence, OT hiring grows.

Mental Health and Addiction Services Expansion

Canada’s mental health crisis has driven hospital and community investment in mental health services. Occupational therapy plays a key role in mental health recovery, helping individuals rebuild daily routines, regain social participation, develop coping strategies, and rebuild purpose and identity after mental illness or addiction. Expanded mental health services translate into expanded OT roles.

Similarly, efforts to address opioid misuse by expanding non-opioid pain management approaches create opportunities for occupational therapists helping patients develop meaningful activity, manage pain through engagement and purpose, and build resilience despite chronic conditions.

Inclusive Education and Special Needs Support

Provinces across Canada are committed to inclusive education—the principle that students with disabilities learn in mainstream classroom settings with support, rather than segregated special education programs. Supporting this inclusion requires occupational therapists working with students on sensory integration, fine motor skills, self-regulation, and social participation. As school boards commit resources to inclusion, OT positions increase.

Collaborative Primary Care Model Growth

Healthcare systems nationally are shifting toward collaborative primary care teams including nurses, social workers, and allied health professionals like occupational therapists. Occupational therapists in primary care settings support chronic disease management, functional rehabilitation, and social determinants of health. As collaborative care expands, new OT positions emerge.

Regional Variations in Demand

Ontario: Largest Market, Good Outlook

Ontario employs approximately seven thousand three hundred fifty occupational therapists—the largest OT workforce of any province. Job Bank data shows GOOD employment outlook for Ontario OTs through 2027. Toronto region specifically shows GOOD outlook with ongoing new position creation in hospitals and community settings. Rural Ontario shows strong demand, particularly in smaller hospital systems and rural long-term care facilities.

Atlantic Canada: Untapped Opportunity

Nova Scotia specifically shows GOOD employment outlook for occupational therapists through 2027. Aging population in Atlantic Canada, combined with long-term care expansion, creates robust demand. Facilities in Atlantic Canada report difficulty recruiting qualified OTs. Relocation packages and recruitment incentives are often more generous than in major urban centers, making these positions attractive despite lower population density.

British Columbia and Alberta: Growing Demand

Both provinces show strong employment growth for occupational therapists. Alberta Health Services actively recruits OTs for hospital and community positions. British Columbia shows similar growth driven by aging population and healthcare expansion. Rural areas in both provinces face particular shortages and offer relocation incentives for OTs willing to practice in smaller communities.

The Shortage Challenge: Why Positions Aren’t Filling

Graduate Output Cannot Match Demand

Educational programs in occupational therapy produce approximately one thousand Canadian graduates per year. While this number has grown modestly over the past decade, it falls short of the one thousand positions opening annually due to expansion demand alone. Add retirement and occupational mobility to the equation, and demand substantially exceeds supply.

Unlike nursing, where educational capacity has expanded significantly, occupational therapy programs have not ramped up comparable growth. This remains a structural constraint on workforce supply.

Geographic Concentration of Graduates

Occupational therapy educational programs are concentrated in major urban centers. Graduates naturally gravitate toward urban employment markets where schools are located, professional networks are established, and urban lifestyle is available. Rural and small-town facilities struggle to attract graduates who have no established roots in remote areas.

Retention Challenges in Long-Term Care and Rural Settings

While long-term care and rural positions represent genuine opportunities, retention is challenging. Long-term care can be physically and emotionally demanding. Rural practice may involve professional isolation and limited access to specialty consultation or continuing education. Some OTs try rural or long-term care positions but relocate to urban healthcare settings within two years, creating ongoing recruitment pressure.

Internationally Trained Occupational Therapists

Internationally trained occupational therapists can practice in Canada with credential recognition. CIHI data shows internationally educated OTs represent six point one percent of the Canadian OT supply. Regulatory bodies in each province assess international credentials and may require bridge training or examination. Despite additional barriers, internationally trained OTs find reasonable employment prospects in Canada due to shortage conditions. Facilities recruiting into remote areas are often willing to support credential assessment timelines.

Conclusion: Occupational Therapist Demand Remains Strong Across All Settings

Occupational therapist positions across Canada reflect robust demand driven by aging populations, healthcare system changes, school inclusion expansion, and mental health investment. Hospitals are hiring. Long-term care facilities are recruiting, particularly in rural regions. Schools are expanding OT services. Community-based care settings are growing.

For occupational therapists, this means abundant opportunities across all employment settings and geographic regions. For facilities struggling to fill positions, the challenge remains significant—demand outpaces supply at the national level, and geographic distribution of OTs does not match geographic distribution of positions.

The moderate shortage risk designation suggests this imbalance will persist through 2033 as healthcare systems continue investing in occupational therapy while educational capacity remains constrained.

Magnus HRS: Connecting Occupational Therapists with Opportunity Across Canada

Magnus HRS specializes in occupational therapist recruitment across Canada.

We connect occupational therapists with healthcare facilities, long-term care homes, school boards, and community organizations across the country. Whether you’re seeking opportunities in hospital rehabilitation, long-term care, school-based practice, or community settings, Magnus HRS connects you with positions matching your expertise and career goals.

If you’re an occupational therapist exploring opportunities in Canada or considering relocation, contact Magnus HRS to discuss positions in your preferred setting and region.

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References

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). (2024-2033). Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS): Occupational Therapists. Retrieved from https://occupations.esdc.gc.ca/

Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). (2024). Occupational Therapists in Canada: Employment Data and Trends. Retrieved from https://www.cihi.ca/en/occupational-therapists

Government of Canada Job Bank. (2025). Occupational Therapist in Canada: Job prospects and employment outlook. Retrieved from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/

Government of Canada Job Bank. (2025). Occupational Therapist in Ontario: Employment prospects and regional data. Retrieved from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/

Government of Canada Job Bank. (2025). Occupational Therapist in Nova Scotia: Employment prospects and regional data. Retrieved from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/

Government of Canada Job Bank. (2025). Occupational Therapist in Toronto Region: Regional employment data. Retrieved from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). (2025). Career pathways and employment settings. Retrieved from https://www.caot.ca/

WorkBC. (2025). Occupational Therapist Career Profile and British Columbia employment information. Retrieved from https://www.workbc.ca/

Canada Youth Works. (2025). Occupational Therapy Jobs in Canada: Employers, opportunities, and career information. Retrieved from https://www.canadayouthworks.ca/