Job prospects Correctional Service Officer in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "correctional service officer" 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 moderate for Correctional service officers (NOC 43201) 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.
• 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?

• Majority employed in public administration, mainly by the provincial government
  • The federal government accounts for the second highest share

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The level of job creation usually depends on public sector spending in correctional facilities
• Funding allocated to strengthen recruitment should add opportunities for these professionals during the forecast period

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Basic requirements for entry into the occupation include completion of provincial:
  • Examinations such as the Fitness Test for Ontario Correctional Officer Applicants (FITCO)
  • Corrections Foundational Training program

What other information will I find helpful?

• Individuals employed in designated French Language Services (FLS) positions must be able to perform their duties in English and French; advanced level oral skills in French is required.

Here are some key facts about Correctional service officers in Ontario:

• Approximately 6,350 people work in this occupation.
• Correctional service officers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 53%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 41%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 95% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 86% of correctional service officers work all year, while 14% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 69% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 31% 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: 19% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 52% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 21% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% 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 "correctional service officer" Correctional service officers (NOC 43201) or across Canada.

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