Job prospects Psychologist in Ontario
Job opportunities for Psychologists (NOC 4151) are fair in Ontario over the next 3 years. These job prospects are also applicable to people working as a psychologist.
Note that the current 2019-2021 employment prospects were published in December 2019 based on information available at that time. We are working to update this information as soon as possible. In the meantime, visit the Canadian Online Job Posting Dashboard to find the latest data on the demand and work requirements for this occupation. You can also read our newly updated sectoral profiles to learn about recent developments for key economic sectors in your region.
Job opportunities in Ontario
The employment outlook will be fair for Psychologists (NOC 4151) in Ontario for the 2019-2021 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
- Several positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
In Ontario, approximately half of psychologists are employed in the health care sector, mainly in their own offices. A smaller percentage is also employed directly in hospitals or offer medical and educational psychology counselling services. This occupation has a higher rate of part-time employment than all occupations in Ontario, and a large share of psychologists are self-employed.
Employment growth in this occupation is largely dependent on the demand for psychological services. An increasing awareness of mental health, recent investments in improving access to mental health and addictions treatment and prevention services, and a recent focus on youth mental health are all factors that will drive the demand for these professionals. Further, efforts to increase access to mental health services for Indigenous individuals and provide support services to survivors of residential schools and their families should lead to opportunities for psychologists who specialize in this area, and are willing to work in remote and northern communities. Finally, the province's aging population will likely support job opportunities in geriatric care due to age-related cognitive declines.
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not cover the fees for psychological services, but services may be available free of charge through government-funded programs in hospitals, schools, or correctional facilities. Otherwise, psychological services may be partly covered by private health insurance plans or by clients paying out of pocket. There have been increases in the amount of private spending coming from insurance rather than from patients' pockets, which may signal better access to psychologists.
Both psychologists and psychotherapists are regulated and licensed professionals in Ontario. Psychologists are required to have a doctoral degree in psychology, while psychological associates must have at least a master's degree in the discipline. The required level of education for psychotherapists varies by position, but all registered psychotherapists must meet entry-to-practice competencies as outlined by their regulatory body. Employment opportunities may be better for candidates with expertise in a specific therapy type or with a certain type of patient.
Here are some key facts about Psychologists in the Ontario region:
- Approximately 9,500 people work in this occupation.
- Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
- Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 55%
- Hospitals (NAICS 622): 12%
- Social assistance (NAICS 624): 10%
- Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 9%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 70% compared to 79% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 30% compared to 21% for all occupations
- 57% of psychologists work all year, while 43% 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 39 weeks compared to 31 weeks for all occupations.
- 44% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
Breakdown by region
Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.
Location | Job prospects |
---|---|
Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula Region | Fair Fair |
Kingston–Pembroke Region | Fair Fair |
Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie Region | Fair Fair |
London Region | Fair Fair |
Muskoka–Kawarthas Region | Fair Fair |
Northeast Region | Fair Fair |
Northwest Region | Undetermined Undetermined |
Ottawa Region | Fair Fair |
Stratford–Bruce Peninsula Region | Undetermined Undetermined |
Toronto Region | Fair Fair |
Windsor-Sarnia Region | Fair Fair |
Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology
You can also look at this data on a map. Go to LMI Explore
Job prospects elsewhere in Canada
We expect that there will be a labour SHORTAGE for Psychologists (NOC 4151) in Canada over the next 10 years.
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