NOC 31102: General practitioners and family physicians

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

Health care demands from an aging population and a restricted supply of workers contribute to opportunities for this occupation. The absence of general practitioners and family physicians tends to be more acute in rural communities since these professionals often migrate to regions with medical institutions and health care centres. Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services has been actively recruiting, using a variety of incentives such as cash bonuses.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador:

Approximately 900 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 61%

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 37%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 93% compared to 83% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 7% compared to 17% for all occupations

66% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 56% and 43% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 40 weeks for all occupations.

51% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 8% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 50% compared to 51% for all occupations

Women: 50% compared to 49% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 7% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

General practitioners and family physicians remain in shortage across P.E.I., with thousands of residents still without a family doctor and rural emergency rooms facing periodic closures due to staffing gaps. The province’s five-year health plan continues to expand medical homes and introduce new roles such as Physician Assistants and Associate Physicians to ease pressure on the system. Recruitment campaigns are ongoing by the province, including incentives to attract physicians from other provinces and internationally. Demand is driven by the aging population, immigration growth, and long wait times for surgeries and primary care access. For new graduates or those seeking opportunities, P.E.I. offers meaningful career prospects, especially for those willing to work in group practices or rural communities. Advances in technology and testing methods are also helping physicians manage larger patient loads, making adaptability and openness to collaborative care models important for success in this evolving health system.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Prince Edward Island:

Approximately 300 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 64%

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 32%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 95% compared to 84% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 5% compared to 16% for all occupations

72% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.

33% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 47% compared to 51% for all occupations

Women: 53% compared to 49% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 8% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it easy to find work.

Health care demands from an aging population and a restricted supply of workers contribute to opportunities for this occupation. There are ongoing reports in the media of doctor shortages in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Health Authority has been actively recruiting, and some positions remain difficult to fill. Extensive recruiting may be necessary at times to fill a position.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Nova Scotia:

Approximately 1,850 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 52%

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 45%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 92% compared to 82% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 8% compared to 18% for all occupations

71% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.

62% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 50% compared to 51% for all occupations

Women: 50% compared to 49% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 10% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in New Brunswick for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

The growing and ageing population is expected to drive demand for general practitioners and family physicians in the upcoming years. Given the high entrance requirements and limited post-graduate training positions in medical schools across Canada, these professionals are in limited supply. As a result, there continues to be a shortage with many individuals needing a family doctor. Some vacancies are more difficult to fill and both provincial health networks tend to be actively recruiting at any point in time, often directly out of school.

A greater number of general practitioners and family physicians are employed in the province’s largest urban areas (Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton), due to the high concentrations of people living in these cities. However, opportunities in rural areas are common, as these positions are more difficult to fill.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in New Brunswick:

Approximately 1,400 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 50%

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 49%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 93% compared to 84% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 7% compared to 16% for all occupations

67% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 33% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.

60% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 47% compared to 52% for all occupations

Women: 53% compared to 48% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 7% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

The demand for this occupation is driven by the province's growing and aging population.

Shortages have prompted the provincial government to expand medical school seats, increase funding for services, and providing incentives to attract and retain doctors in underserved rural and remote communities. Doctors Manitoba has launched a recruiting campaign targeting the U.S.

Key trends include team-based and patient-centric care, telehealth for routine follow-ups and remote patients, artificial intelligence (AI) for notetaking and charting, and wearable tracking devices.

Jobs are concentrated in the Winnipeg region.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Manitoba:

Approximately 2,700 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 56%

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 41%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 93% compared to 81% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 7% compared to 19% for all occupations

63% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 37% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.

56% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 57% compared to 53% for all occupations

Women: 42% compared to 47% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 8% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

An aging and growing population is creating greater demand on the health care system.

The provincial government has a Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain health care providers.

There is high demand for this occupation as the provincial government ramps up initiatives to address persisting labour shortages across the health care sector.

Initiatives to support home and community care services and investments in health care facilities.

Demand may be greater in rural and northern communities of Saskatchewan.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Saskatchewan:

Approximately 1,800 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 50%

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 39%

Universities (NAICS 6113): 11%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 94% compared to 81% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations

65% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 35% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.

61% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 56% compared to 53% for all occupations

Women: 44% compared to 47% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 7% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Alberta’s population and its proportion of residents aged 65+ are predicted to increase over the next decade, contributing to demand for this occupation.

Employment prospects for family physicians have improved driven by targeted government initiatives and rising healthcare demand.

The province has launched several efforts to strengthen primary care, including the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS) plan.

MAPS promotes team-based care and improved access in underserved and rural areas, expanding the role of family physicians.

The 2025–2028 Alberta Health Business Plan and Budget 2025 prioritize growing the healthcare workforce and reducing barriers to practice.

These efforts are backed by increased funding for training, recruitment, and retention, with a focus on rural and Indigenous communities.

As Alberta’s population grows and healthcare needs intensify, family physicians are central to delivering accessible, patient-centered care, making this a high-opportunity occupation.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Alberta:

Approximately 9,200 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 60%

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 38%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 92% compared to 80% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 8% compared to 20% for all occupations

56% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 44% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.

68% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 51% compared to 53% for all occupations

Women: 49% compared to 47% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 9% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Very good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Northwest Territories for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.

Several positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Ongoing staffing shortages in health care and an ageing population will keep demand high for health professionals over the forecast period.

Staffing shortages continue to lead to periodic disruptions in health care services throughout the Northwest Territories, especially in rural areas.

A board member of the Northwest Territories Medical Association reported a 50% doctor vacancy in the territory in 2025 (

Cabin Radio, March 11, 2025

).

Local residencies are available. In 2020, the Northwest Territories launched a northern medical residency program, in partnership with the University of Alberta.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Northwest Territories:

Approximately 50 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Health care and social services (NAICS 62): more than 95%

60% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 71% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 44 weeks for all occupations.

18% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 7% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 40% compared to 52% for all occupations

Women: 60% compared to 48% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 90% compared to 9% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Quebec:

Approximately 16,850 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 57%

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 38%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 93% compared to 82% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 7% compared to 18% for all occupations

52% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 48% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.

68% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 43% compared to 52% for all occupations

Women: 56% compared to 48% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 11% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to several new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

Offices of physicians

Hospitals

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

Increased need for health care services to support the growing and aging population in Ontario

Greater demand on the health care system because of the backlog of medical procedures and patient care needs

Investments in health care facilities

Demand may be greater in rural and northern communities of Ontario

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

Registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is required

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in Ontario.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in Ontario:

Approximately 31,350 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 62%

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 32%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 91% compared to 81% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations

68% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 32% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.

65% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 51% compared to 52% for all occupations

Women: 49% compared to 48% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 13% for all occupations

The employment outlook will be Good for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.

A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Labour shortages continue to affect the delivery of health care services in various parts of the province, especially in northern and rural areas.

Here are some key facts about general practitioners and family physicians in British Columbia:

Approximately 11,350 people work in this occupation.

General practitioners and family physicians mainly work in the following sectors:

Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 59%

Hospitals (NAICS 622): 38%

The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:

Full-time workers: 90% compared to 78% for all occupations

Part-time workers: 10% compared to 22% for all occupations

52% of general practitioners and family physicians work all year, while 48% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.

73% of general practitioners and family physicians are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.

The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:

Men: 55% compared to 52% for all occupations

Women: 45% compared to 48% for all occupations

The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:

no high school diploma: n/a

high school diploma or equivalent: n/a

apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a

college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a

bachelor's degree: n/a

university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 12% for all occupations

An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.