Job prospects Funeral Director in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "funeral director" 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 very good for Funeral directors and embalmers (NOC 62201) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
• Several 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?

• Funeral directors and embalmers work almost exclusively in the funeral services industry

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• A growing and aging population will continue to sustain demand for funeral services
• Changing consumer preferences from traditional funerals to other options may impact the roles of some of these professionals

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) regulates this occupation

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Only two Ontario colleges offer BAO-approved programs in Funeral Service Education.

Here are some key facts about Funeral directors and embalmers in Ontario:

• Approximately 3,500 people work in this occupation.
• Funeral directors and embalmers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Personal and laundry services (NAICS 812): more than 95%
• 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
• 80% of funeral directors and embalmers work all year, while 20% 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.
• 14% of funeral directors and embalmers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 51% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 49% 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: 10% 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: 68% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 14% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology