The study suggests that work-life balance is a big contributing factor. Some of the biggest concerns from nurses include lack of control over their work schedules, mandatory overtime and a lack of shift flexibility.

Wittevrongel said the situation in Alberta is worse than the national average. Nationwide, for every 100 Canadian nurses who started in the field in 2022, 40 below the age of 35 left the profession, according to the MEI report. That number is up 25 per cent from 2013. Click to play video: 'Fears of health-care collapse from delay in pay deal for Alberta doctors' 2:00 Fears of health-care collapse from delay in pay deal for Alberta doctors

In comparison with other provinces, Alberta ranks fourth when it comes to the proportion of young nurses leaving the profession, sitting behind New Brunswick (80.2 per cent), Nova scotia (60.4 per cent) and Newfoundland and Labrador (50.3 per cent).