Job prospects Research Scientist, Physics in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "research scientist, physics" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Physicists and astronomers (NOC 21100) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several 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?

• A variety of industries, but the main employers are professional, scientific and technical services companies such as scientific research and development firms
• Federal government departments and agencies
• Hospitals, and manufacturers

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Physicists may benefit from:
  • Federal budget commitments to science and research
  • Large investments in nuclear power, and the need for professionals in health physics, particularly in oncology and nuclear medicine departments in hospitals and academia
• Continuing work on Canada’s space program may create work for astronomers
• Increased global demand for medical devices and greater use of navigational and guidance instruments for the aerospace industry may lead to some work in this field

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Some employers may prefer health and medical physicists to have membership or fellowship in the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine or the equivalent.

Here are some key facts about Physicists and astronomers in Ontario:

• Approximately 1,100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Physicists and astronomers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 22%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 19%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 15%
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 9%
  • Utilities (NAICS 22): 9%
• 90% of physicists and astronomers work all year, while 10% 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 49 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of physicists and astronomers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 78% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 22% 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: n/a
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 16% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 80% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic 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 "research scientist, physics" Physicists and astronomers (NOC 21100) or across Canada.

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