Job outlook Psychologist in Ontario

The employment outlook will be good for Psychologists (NOC 4151) in Ontario for the 2018-2020 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of 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. 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 8,450 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.