Healthcare Graduates’ Career Success Among International Students in Canada

A recent study by Statistics Canada reveals that for international students studying in Canada, healthcare programs have emerged as the top choice for career prospects over STEM and business programs. The study conducted by Youjin Choi and Li Xu highlights that graduates of healthcare programs are more likely to pursue careers aligned with their studies compared to STEM and business graduates.

The research indicates that the alignment of international students with their study programs is significantly higher for healthcare graduates at the bachelor’s level. Conversely, students studying STEM or business-related courses below the bachelor’s degree level exhibit lower alignment rates.

Higher education levels correspond to increased alignment among study-to-immigrate graduates, especially for those who obtained their highest educational credential in Canada. The study focused on foreign nationals who became permanent residents between 2011 and 2021.

Key Findings:

• Healthcare graduates show 10-20% higher alignment rates compared to graduates of other programs.
• Business and administration graduates have the lowest alignment rates.

The study presents alignment rates across different fields of study:

Even within the STEM category, healthcare graduates exhibit higher alignment rates:

International vs. Canadian STEM Graduates:

International STEM graduates with their highest education credential from Canada show 16% higher alignment than Canadian-born STEM graduates. However, international healthcare graduates also demonstrate significant alignment rates.