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

Moderate

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

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good

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.

Learn more

Labour Market Information Survey
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