Job prospects Family Physician near Yellowknife (NT)

Job outlook over the next 3 years

Very good

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

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Find out what will be the job prospects for General practitioners and family physicians across Canada over the next 10 years, from 2022 to 2031.

Learn more

Labour Market Information Survey
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