Job prospects Personal Support Worker - Home Support in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "personal support worker - home support" in Ontario or Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

Note that these outlooks are based on the 2016 version of the NOC. Learn more about our methodology.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Very good

The employment outlook will be very good for Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations (NOC 4412) in Ontario for the 2022-2024 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

  • Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
  • Several positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

  • Health care and social assistance providers of individual and family services, home health care, and nursing and residential care
  • Private households

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • Greater demand on the health care system because of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased need for personal support workers
  • The growing and aging population will increase demand for workers to provide services to seniors, persons with disabilities, or convalescent clients in a home setting
  • Investments to increase care and capacity at long-term care homes
  • Initiatives to support home and community-based care, including respite services.
  • Employee turnover may be a source of job openings

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • Courses related to the care of elderly, persons with disabilities, convalescent care, or home management and support, may be required along with on-the-job training.
  • First aid certification is usually required
  • Completion of a Personal Support Worker or Developmental Services Worker program may be required

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

  • Ability to work part-time and various shifts is an asset
  • Public sector investments are being made to support training and development for personal support workers
  • Foreign caregivers that provide care for elderly persons or those with high medical needs are included in this occupational group

Here are some key facts about Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations in Ontario:

  • Approximately 22,150 people work in this occupation.
  • Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 30%
    • Private households (NAICS 814): 27%
    • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 25%
    • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 8%
  • The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
    • Full-time workers: 60% compared to 79% for all occupations
    • Part-time workers: 40% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • 57% of home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations work all year, while 42% 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 32 weeks compared to 31 weeks for all occupations.
  • 9% of home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 9% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 91% compared to 48% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: 10% compared to 10% for all occupations
    • high school diploma or equivalent: 21% compared to 27% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 6% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 45% compared to 26% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 13% compared to 21% for all occupations
    • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Legend

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good

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 "personal support worker - home support" in Ontario or Canada.

Learn more

Labour Market Information Survey
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