Job prospects Registered Pharmacist in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "registered pharmacist" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Pharmacists (NOC 31120) in Ontario 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.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Pharmacies and drug stores
• Hospitals

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Greater need for medication management and overall health care services to support the growing and aging population in Ontario
• Investments in health care facilities and hospitals

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists is required to practise

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Ability to work evenings and weekends to meet client needs may be required
• Generally, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.

Here are some key facts about Pharmacists in Ontario:

• Approximately 16,200 people work in this occupation.
• Pharmacists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 77%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 15%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 84% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 16% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 76% of pharmacists work all year, while 24% 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 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 23% of pharmacists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 41% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 59% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 55% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 42% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario 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 "registered pharmacist" Pharmacists (NOC 31120) or across Canada.

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