Job prospects Family Caregiver in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "family caregiver" 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 Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Health care and social assistance providers of individual and family services, home health care, and nursing and residential care
• Private households

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The growing and aging population will increase demand for workers to provide services to seniors, persons with disabilities, or clients recovering from illness in a home setting
• Investments to increase care and capacity at long-term care homes
• Initiatives to support home and community-based care

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Courses related to the care of seniors, persons with disabilities, convalescent care, or home management and support, may be required along with on-the-job training
• Completion of a Personal Support Worker or Developmental Services Worker program may be required

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Ability to work part-time and various shifts is an asset
• Public sector investments are being made to support training and development for personal support workers
• Foreign caregivers that provide care for elderly persons or those with high medical needs are included in this occupational group.

Here are some key facts about Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations in Ontario:

• Approximately 19,400 people work in this occupation.
• Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 31%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 26%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 22%
  • Private households (NAICS 814): 10%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 57% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 42% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 54% of home support workers, caregivers and related occupations work all year, while 46% 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 40 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 19% of home support workers, caregivers and related occupations are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 12% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 88% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 9% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 27% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 14% 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: 15% 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

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "family caregiver" in Ontario or across Canada.

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