Job prospects Dental Assistant in New Brunswick

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental assistant" in New Brunswick or across Canada.

Job opportunities in New Brunswick

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Moderate

The employment outlook will be moderate for Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants (NOC 33100) in New Brunswick for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

More dental assistants are employed in the province’s largest urban areas, due to the high concentrations of population. However, opportunities in rural areas are common, as these positions are often more difficult to fill. Some regions will require candidates to be fluent in either official language.
In order to practice, dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants must possess a National Dental Assisting Examining Board Certificate and must be a member of the New Brunswick Dental Assistants’ Association.
Familiarity with general office and dental practice management software would be valuable, though these skills are often learned on the job. Other useful computer skills include typing, charting with dental software and the ability to take and read digital x-rays.
The expansion of the Canada Dental Benefit should result in a rise in demand for dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants.
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants are often required to stand or sit for long periods of time and must be adaptable to a fast-paced environment.
Other tasks that are often carried out by Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants include: ordering dental and office supplies, preparing and sterilizing instruments, scheduling and confirming appointments, and educating patients concerning oral hygiene.

Here are some key facts about Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants in New Brunswick:

Approximately 650 people work in this occupation.
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
- Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 91%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 84% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 16% compared to 16% for all occupations
40% of dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants work all year, while 60% 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 39 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: less than 5% compared to 52% for all occupations
- Women: more than 95% 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: 9% compared to 30% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 24% compared to 12% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 60% compared to 23% for all occupations
- bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 16% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Explore job prospects in New Brunswick by economic region.

Location	Job prospects
Campbellton–Miramichi Region	Undetermined
Edmundston–Woodstock Region	Undetermined
Fredericton–Oromocto	Good
Moncton–Richibucto Region	Good
Saint John–St. Stephen Region	Good