Job prospects Community Pharmacist in New Brunswick

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "community pharmacist" in New Brunswick or across Canada.

Job opportunities in New Brunswick

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Good

The employment outlook will be good for Pharmacists (NOC 31120) in New Brunswick for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of 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.

As the population continues to age, the growing need for prescription drugs and health services will support the demand for this occupation. An increase in the number of pharmacies at retail chains, combined with added services to improve access to care, may add to employment opportunities.
Furthermore, resource pressures across the health delivery network have resulted in an expanded role for pharmacists in service delivery, enabling them to provide a broader range of services. Pharmacists may prescribe medicines; give COVID, flu shots, and other vaccines; assess, treat and prescribe for certain minor ailments and review medications and provide health checks. On the other hand, with the advent of the regulated Pharmacy Technician, it is possible that some employers may choose to reduce pharmacist hours in favor of the latter, as these professionals are less costly to employ.
Shift work in this field is common. More opportunities will be available to those who speak French, as there are more vacancies in the province's francophone communities. As part of their annual licensing requirements, pharmacists must take a certain amount of continuing education in order keep up to date on industry and product information.
In order to work in New Brunswick, a pharmacist must register with the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists. Candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Here are some key facts about Pharmacists in New Brunswick:

Approximately 750 people work in this occupation.
Pharmacists mainly work in the following sectors:
- Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 83%
- Hospitals (NAICS 622): 14%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 88% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 12% compared to 16% for all occupations
82% of pharmacists work all year, while 18% 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 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
15% of pharmacists are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 32% compared to 52% for all occupations
- Women: 68% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: n/a
- high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 30% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
- bachelor's degree: 75% compared to 16% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 23% compared to 7% for all occupations

Explore job prospects in New Brunswick by economic region.

Location	Job prospects
Campbellton–Miramichi Region	Good
Edmundston–Woodstock Region	Good
Fredericton–Oromocto	Good
Moncton–Richibucto Region	Good
Saint John–St. Stephen Region	Good