Job prospects Waiter/waitress in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "waiter/waitress" 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 Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200) 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.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Restaurants, particularly full-service, bars, and banquet halls
• Hotels, motels and resorts
• Sports and recreational establishments such as golf courses

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• In general, employee turnover is expected to create a steady number of job openings, as this is an entry-level occupation with a younger workforce
• Over the longer term, population growth will lead to increased development in several communities, helping support the opening of new restaurants and food service operations

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Sommeliers or wine stewards may require courses and experience in wine selection
• Smart Serve certification is required for employees that serve, deliver, or handle alcohol in Ontario

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Ability to work shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays is an asset.

Here are some key facts about Food and beverage servers in Ontario:

• Approximately 46,800 people work in this occupation.
• Food and beverage servers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 86%
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation (NAICS 71): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 38% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 62% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 16% of food and beverage servers work all year, while 84% 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 25 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of food and beverage servers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 25% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 75% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 13% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 47% 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: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 16% 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

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "waiter/waitress" Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200) or across Canada.

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