Job prospects Employment Counsellor in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "employment counsellor" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) (NOC 41321) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• The leading share is in employment services
• Other key employers include vocational rehabilitation and individual and family services

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The growing number of newcomers in Ontario will require employment counselling to integrate into the labour market
• Government investments in employment services to support workers seeking career changes, retraining, and other employment-related issues  

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In addition to other formal education, knowledge of the local and regional labour markets is typically needed

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Some positions may involve visiting employer clients at different locations, therefore a valid driver's licence may be necessary
• Job prospects will also be better for candidates with experience working with particular client groups such as at-risk youth, persons with disabilities, or newcomers
• Contract work is also common in this occupation.

Here are some key facts about Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) in Ontario:

• Approximately 7,450 people work in this occupation.
• Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 28%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 26%
  • Community colleges and C.E.G.E.P.s (NAICS 6112): 7%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 89% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 11% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 74% of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) work all year, while 26% 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 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 11% of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 21% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 79% 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: less than 5% 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: 31% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 47% 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

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "employment counsellor" Employment counsellors (NOC 41321) or across Canada.

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