Job prospects Special Education Assistant in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "special education assistant" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100) in Alberta for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Persistent demand for teaching occupations remains at all levels of education in Alberta. Some schools in the province have been experiencing a shortage of elementary and secondary school teacher assistants.
• The Alberta government announced new operational funding to support enrolment growth and enable school authorities to hire additional staff for the 2024-25 school year. 

Here are some key facts about Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants in Alberta:

• Approximately 14,500 people work in this occupation.
• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 72% compared to 80% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 28% compared to 20% for all occupations
• 17% of elementary and secondary school teacher assistants work all year, while 83% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 36 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of elementary and secondary school teacher assistants are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 6% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 94% compared to 47% 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: 26% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 12% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 37% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 16% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "special education assistant" Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100) or across Canada.

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