Job prospects General Practitioner (GP) in Northwest Territories

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "general practitioner (GP)" in Northwest Territories or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Northwest Territories

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

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

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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