One in five newly certified medical specialists unemployed in 2017, study shows
MONTREAL — Despite long patient waiting lists, almost one in five Canadian medical specialists weren’t able to find work upon graduation from their training programs in 2017 — the highest number ever reported, according to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
A study released Wednesday by the professional association that oversees Canadian medical specialists’ education found that 19 per cent of specialists didn’t immediately find work upon completing their certification.
Unemployment numbers for newly certified specialists have fluctuated between 14 and 19 per cent since the group began conducting surveys in 2011, with the 2017 numbers being the most recent.
The numbers don’t point to a surplus of specialists but rather a need for better planning, according to a spokeswoman for the group.