Job prospects Medical Laboratory Technologist in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "medical laboratory technologist" in Ontario or Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

Note: These outlooks were updated on November 29^th, 2023. Learn more about our methodology.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 32120) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several 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?

• Hospitals
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Increased demand to meet the health care needs of a growing, aging population
• Prevalence of chronic illnesses is resulting in the need for diagnostic testing
• Emergence of new areas of diagnostics such as genetic (DNA) and molecular oncology testing

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Medical laboratory technologists are regulated by the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO), and must be registered with the College prior to working in Ontario
• Some employers also require that candidates be certified by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Laboratory technologists may be required to work rotating shifts
• In general, 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 Medical laboratory technologists in Ontario:

• Approximately 8,800 people work in this occupation.
• Medical laboratory technologists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 66%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 24%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 87% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 81% of medical laboratory technologists work all year, while 19% 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 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of medical laboratory technologists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 23% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 77% 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: 41% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 42% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 13% 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 "medical laboratory technologist" in Ontario or Canada.

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