Job prospects Career Development Counsellor in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "career development counsellor" 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 good for Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) (NOC 41321) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several 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.

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

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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

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