Difficult-to-Fill Healthcare Positions in 2026: How Employers Can Stay Ahead with Caring Support

Canada’s healthcare system is at a turning point in 2026. Labour shortages, an aging workforce, and increasing patient needs are creating pressure on hospitals, long-term care homes, and community healthcare organizations. For employers, attracting and retaining the right talent is more critical than ever—especially for positions that are traditionally difficult to fill.

Understanding which roles are hardest to recruit for, and how to approach hiring strategically, can make the difference between staffing gaps and a fully functioning care team.

Why Some Healthcare Positions Are Harder to Fill

Certain healthcare roles have been consistently challenging for employers due to:

• High demand with low supply: Roles like registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and specialized technicians face a national shortage.

• Experience and certification requirements: Some positions require specialized certifications, years of experience, or clinical exposure, limiting the candidate pool.

• High burnout or turnover: Jobs such as personal support workers (PSWs) and home care aides often see higher turnover, making long-term staffing difficult.

• Geographic barriers: Rural and remote healthcare facilities struggle to attract qualified candidates willing to relocate.

These challenges are explored further in Filling Critical Roles: Top Strategies for Canadian Healthcare Employers to Attract Talent in 2025, which highlights actionable approaches for overcoming these barriers.

Top Difficult-to-Fill Healthcare Positions in 2026

1. Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs)

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions estimates continued shortages, with retirements and burnout contributing to high demand. Hospitals and long-term care facilities increasingly prioritize candidates who can step in with minimal onboarding. ‍

2. Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and Home Care Aides

These roles are critical for community and long-term care, yet retention remains a challenge. Employers need innovative strategies to recruit and retain these professionals while ensuring quality care. ‍

3. Specialized Allied Health Professionals

Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, and other specialized roles are harder to recruit due to limited supply and high skill requirements. ‍

4. Mental Health Professionals

The growing need for psychologists, counselors, and social workers in healthcare settings has outpaced supply, creating recruitment pressure in hospitals and community organizations.

5. Healthcare Administrators and Coordinators

While not clinical, these roles require operational expertise and industry knowledge. The shortage of candidates familiar with healthcare-specific systems and workflows makes hiring challenging.

How Caring Support Helps Employers Solve Talent Gaps

Caring Support provides innovative solutions for healthcare employers struggling to fill these critical roles. By leveraging AI-driven matching and a healthcare-focused candidate marketplace, employers can access qualified professionals efficiently.

• AI-Powered Job Matching: Employers benefit from Caring Support’s AI-powered job matching, which ensures candidates meet both skill and cultural fit requirements.

• Quality Talent Pool: Through How Caring Support Ensures Quality Talent Matches for Healthcare Employers, organizations can reduce time-to-hire while improving long-term retention.

• User-Friendly Features: Tools like in-platform messaging, video introductions, and candidate filtering allow employers to streamline recruitment, as detailed in Top Features Healthcare Organizations Love About Caring Support.

• Seamless Integration of Technology and Mission: Caring Support’s platform is designed to align with organizational goals, helping employers connect with candidates efficiently while maintaining their operational priorities, described in Caring Support’s Technology and Mission.

Strategies Employers Can Use to Attract Hard-to-Fill Talent

1. Focus on Early Engagement: Partner with post-secondary institutions and certification programs to connect with students and recent graduates.

2. Highlight Career Development Opportunities: Candidates are increasingly seeking employers who invest in professional growth, mentorship, and training programs.

3. Leverage Digital Tools: Platforms like Caring Support allow for targeted outreach to candidates with the right qualifications, saving time and reducing recruitment costs.

4. Offer Flexible Work Options: For roles prone to burnout, flexible scheduling, remote options, and supportive workplace policies can increase retention.

5. Market Organizational Culture: Employer branding matters. Showcasing team culture, values, and impact on patient care can attract candidates who prioritize meaningful work.

Conclusion

Filling difficult healthcare positions in 2026 requires strategic planning, digital solutions, and proactive engagement. Employers who understand workforce trends and leverage platforms like Caring Support can gain a competitive edge by connecting with qualified candidates quickly and efficiently.

By combining hands-on talent acquisition strategies with AI-driven tools, healthcare organizations can ensure that critical roles are filled, patient care remains uninterrupted, and staff retention improves.

FAQs

1. What are the most difficult healthcare positions to fill in 2026?

Roles such as RNs, RPNs, PSWs, allied health professionals, mental health specialists, and healthcare administrators are among the hardest to fill.

2. How can healthcare employers find qualified candidates quickly?

Leveraging platforms like Caring Support and using AI-powered job matching can streamline recruitment and connect employers with the right talent faster.

3. Why are PSW and home care positions hard to fill?

High turnover, burnout, and geographic barriers contribute to a limited supply of qualified PSWs and home care aides.

4. How does Caring Support ensure quality candidate matches?

Caring Support uses AI-driven algorithms, in-platform messaging, and candidate filtering to ensure skill, experience, and cultural fit align with employer needs.

5. Can Caring Support help with retention as well as recruitment?

Yes. By connecting employers with candidates who match organizational culture and by supporting professional growth, Caring Support helps improve long-term retention.