Job prospects Systems Programmer in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "systems programmer" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Various industries, but the leading share employed in computer systems design and related services, which include video game design and development
• Finance and insurance, mainly banks
• Public administration, largely federal government departments

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The extensive use of advanced digital tools across all industries will continue to create job opportunities
• However, the pace of job growth may be affected by recent restructuring in the technology sector
• The potential offshoring of some lower value programming work may also moderate job prospects for these professionals

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In addition to other formal education, employers tend to seek candidates with knowledge of programming languages, more commonly, Structured Query Language (SQL), C# and JavaScript

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• In general, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.

Here are some key facts about Computer systems developers and programmers in Ontario:

• Approximately 31,050 people work in this occupation.
• Computer systems developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 35%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 12%
  • Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 12%
  • Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 78% of computer systems developers and programmers work all year, while 22% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 12% of computer systems developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 77% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 23% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 12% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 25% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 42% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 18% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "systems programmer" in Ontario or across Canada.

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