Job prospects Dental Assistant in Nova Scotia
Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental assistant" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.
Job opportunities in Nova Scotia
These outlooks were updated on November 29th, 2023. Learn more about outlooks.
Prospects over the next 3 years
The employment outlook will be moderate for Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants (NOC 33100) in Nova Scotia for the 2023-2025 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
The number of dentists in Nova Scotia has been increasing, resulting in a shortage of dental assistants. Demand for this occupation is very strong with vacancies frequently occurring throughout the province, improving the likelihood that a jobseeker will find employment in the community of their choice. In response to the strong demand for dental assistants, one of the colleges offering dental assisting accreditation added a training location in Dartmouth in 2020. Full-time, part-time, and fill-in positions are available, increasing the chance that applicants will find a position with their preferred number of hours.
Here are some key facts about Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants in Nova Scotia:
- Approximately 900 people work in this occupation.
- Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
- Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 93%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 90% compared to 82% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 10% compared to 18% for all occupations
- 35% of dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants work all year, while 65% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 40 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
- Less than 5% of dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: less than 5% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: more than 95% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 5% compared to 27% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 22% compared to 12% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 63% compared to 22% for all occupations
- bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 20% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
Breakdown by region
Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.
Legend
Location | Job prospects |
---|---|
Annapolis Valley Region | |
Cape Breton Region | |
Halifax Region | |
North Shore Region | |
Southern 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 "dental assistant" Dental assistants (NOC 33100) or across Canada.
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