Job prospects Special Education Teacher - Primary School in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "special education teacher - primary school" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221) in Quebec for the 2024-2026 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.

Employment in this occupation varies according to government funding and changes in the number of students who are attending preschool and elementary school. According to the ministère de l'Éducation's projections, the number of students is expected to drop overall in the medium term.

New kindergarten classes for four-year-olds, which were not included in the projections above, would offset the anticipated drop at the preschool level, even though the Government of Quebec has slowed down the pace of its roll-out.

The record number of immigrants who arrived in 2023 should boost demand for preschool and primary school reception classes.

The teacher shortage, which is exacerbated by a significant number of employees leaving the occupation all together, remains a major concern in the school network. In addition to the salary adjustments granted, major investments have been announced to support the recognition of prior learning, and the recruitment, retention and return of retired staff to teaching.

Due to numerous vacancies, school service centres are hiring teachers who do not hold a bachelor's degree in teaching or a teaching certificate. A one-stop service has been set up to help them obtain it.

Teachers must now manage a variety of digital tools, such as online learning platforms, software to create interactive content and virtual collaboration tools.

Here are some key facts about Elementary school and kindergarten teachers in Quebec:

• Approximately 77,050 people work in this occupation.
• Elementary school and kindergarten teachers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 84% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 16% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 87% of elementary school and kindergarten teachers work all year, while 13% 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 43 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 14% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 86% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 76% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 16% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "special education teacher - primary school" Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221) or across Canada.

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