The second CaRMS round left 181 openings across Canada, with 139 of those in family medicine, according to the latest matching report released Tuesday.
That figure means more than three‑quarters of the unfilled slots are in primary care, a share that has risen sharply compared to recent years. The shortfall reflects persistent challenges in attracting trainees to community‑focused training.
Nationwide shortfall spikes
Across the country, the tally of unfilled positions climbed by nearly 48 % from the previous year’s second round. The surge is most pronounced in the province that hosts the bulk of French‑language medical schools, where the gap widened by over 80 %.
In the province, 126 of the 139 primary‑care openings remain empty after the second round, a stark contrast to the 92 slots filled nationwide during the same period. Only a handful of positions were taken up in the intervening weeks.
Medical schools bear the brunt
Four institutions account for the lion’s share of the shortfall. One school reported 60 empty spots, another 42, a third listed 37, and the fourth posted 20. Together they represent close to 88 % of all unfilled slots.
Specific training sites show the deepest gaps. One regional program listed ten openings, another nine, and a third also nine. Smaller sites in the north and east reported seven each, while two locations combined contributed twelve vacancies.
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Outside of primary care, the remaining openings are scattered among specialties: eleven in psychiatry, four in general surgery, three in medical genetics and genomics, three in obstetrics and gynecology, and three in urology.
The numbers sit oddly on the chart, hinting at a mismatch between supply and demand that may linger beyond the current cycle.
For prospective trainees, the expanding pool of slots could translate into more negotiating power, yet the persistent emptiness suggests that many programs may still struggle to attract candidates willing to train in less urban environments.
Earlier this year the province announced an addition of 24 new residency spots, bringing the total to 1,008, including 554 for primary‑care tracks. Whether this increase will close the gap remains uncertain, given a longstanding shortage estimated at roughly 2,000 physicians.
Officials note that the figures reflect the data published by the Canadian Resident Matching Service after the second round. Some schools indicated that adjustments for international graduates could shift the numbers slightly.
Stakeholders will watch the upcoming intake closely, as the ability to fill these openings will affect service delivery in underserved areas for years to come.
