Personal Support Worker

Personal support worker

Personal Support Work in Canada

Personal support workers provide frontline care for seniors, people living with disabilities, and others who need assistive care in demanding environments.

A report released from the CSA Public Policy Centre shows that a high percentage of Canada’s personal support workers (PSWs) are leaving or considering leaving their jobs because of work pressures. The report, Revaluing Personal Support Work in Canada offers recommendations for a more sustainable care system.

Despite these challenges, 86% of PSWs say they are satisfied with the nature of their work. However, the report is clear that dedication alone will not be enough to retain the existing PSW workforce.

To help stabilize and strengthen the PSW workforce, the report calls for an approach, including:

  • Enhancing national coordination of PSW retention and recruitment through establishment of a national taskforce comprised of provinces, employers, educators, and PSWs.
  • Improving working conditions across Canada by implementing national workplace safety standards.
  • Increasing wages, benefits, and job security for PSWs
  • Improving access to education and training through more affordable, accessible PSW programs and nationally consistent curricula that include dementia care, mental health, and infection control.

While considering this, there are also trends to watch for personal support workers in Canada in 2025. 

  • The Rise of Virtual Training: More PSW Online Programs
  • Higher Demand for PSWs in Home and Community Care
  • Improved PSW Insurance Benefits and Worker Protections
  • More Hiring Opportunities: Job Fairs and Career Growth
  • Growing Demand for Specialized PSWs

Consider reading Attracting New PSW Graduates to Long-Term Care and Home and Community Care Sectors | Ontario Health from Ontario Health for attracting new PSW grads.

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