Job prospects Assistant, Social Services in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "assistant, social services" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Social and community service workers (NOC 42201) in Nova Scotia for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

A continued focus on general wellness and mental health is a positive factor for those seeking work in this field. Opportunities are also influenced by government funding and population demographics. This is a fairly large occupational group, with a wide range of potential employers, so positions are often created through replacement and normal turnover. While vacancies are plentiful, work environments vary quite a bit and competition tends to be stronger for some positions. Entry into the occupation is often through casual or relief employment.

Here are some key facts about Social and community service workers in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 3,650 people work in this occupation.
• Social and community service workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 40%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 28%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 7%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 83% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 17% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 71% of social and community service workers work all year, while 28% 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 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 23% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 77% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 19% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 31% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 33% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 7% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia 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 "assistant, social services" Social and community service workers (NOC 42201) or across Canada.

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