Job prospects Mental Health Counsellor in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "mental health 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 good for Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (NOC 41301) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 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 small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• More than one-third are employed in offices of other health practitioners
• Other key employers include, individual and family services, out-patient care centres, and hospitals 
• Self employment

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• This occupational group includes therapists in different specializations, therefore employment prospects may vary among these professionals. For example:
• Public sector investments in mental health-related services are expected to create job opportunities for therapists offering services for addiction treatment and prevention, and to children and youth                                         

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Professional and/or regulatory bodies associated with this occupational group include:
• College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.

Here are some key facts about Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies in Ontario:

• Approximately 26,650 people work in this occupation.
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 43%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 30%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 10%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 7%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 72% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 28% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 61% of therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies work all year, while 39% 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 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 41% of therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 17% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 83% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 32% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 68% 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 "mental health counsellor" Family, marriage and other related counsellors (NOC 41301) or across Canada.

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