Job prospects Occupational Therapist (OT) in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "occupational therapist (OT)" 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 Occupational therapists (NOC 31203) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many 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?

• Hospitals
• Occupational therapy clinics and offices

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Keeping the aging population in their place of choice is generating demand for occupational therapy services
• Increased focus on self management of chronic conditions
• Efforts to reduce opioid misuse by supporting alternative approaches to managing acute or chronic pain

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) is required

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Many employers also seek candidates that are willing to travel, have access to a vehicle and/or possess a valid Ontario driver’s licence.

Here are some key facts about Occupational therapists in Ontario:

• Approximately 7,200 people work in this occupation.
• Occupational therapists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 49%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 35%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 8%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 81% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 19% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 70% of occupational therapists work all year, while 30% 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.
• 19% of occupational therapists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 9% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 91% 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: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 30% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 67% 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 an "occupational therapist (OT)" in Ontario or across Canada.

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