Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS)
Search for Occupational Projection Summaries (2022-2031)
The 2022 COPS exercise was developed using the 2016 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The 2016 NOC has 500 occupations. However, many of these occupations are small in terms of employment. Such occupations were combined into broader groupings according to the specific tasks of each occupation. By grouping small occupations with similar tasks together, 293 occupational groupings were obtained. Although NOC already has a more recent version (2021), the model’s input data were only available in the 2016 version of the NOC at the time of the development of the projections.
For more information on the 293 occupational grouping used in COPS, please visit the COPS Occupational Groupings' Definition.
Search Result : Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
- Occupational Outlook
- SHORTAGE: This occupational group is expected to face labour shortage conditions over the period of 2022-2031 at the national level. The section below contains more detailed information regarding the outlook for this occupational group.
- Occupations in this Group
-
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
- Skill Type
- Health occupations
- Skill Level
- Occupations usually require university education.
- Employment in 2021
- 16,700
- Median Age of workers in 2021
- 42.6 years old
- Estimated Median Age of Retirement in 2021
- 64 years old
In order to determine the expected outlook of an occupation, the magnitude of the difference between the projected total numbers of new job seekers and job openings over the whole projection period (2022-2031) is analyzed in conjunction with an assessment of labour market conditions in recent years. The intention is to determine if recent labour market conditions (surplus, balance or shortage) are expected to persist or change over the period 2022-2031. For instance, if the analysis of key labour market indicators suggests that the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings (a shortage of workers) in an occupational group in recent years, the projections are used to assess if this situation will continue over the projection period or if the occupation will move towards balanced conditions. It is important to note that COPS does not identify imbalances that may temporarily appear during specific years, unless they will persist over the longer run.
Over the 2019-2021 period, employment growth in this occupational group was among the strongest of all occupations. The unemployment rate remained very low and stood at less than 1.0% in 2021, well below the national average of 7.5%. As a result of the low unemployment rate and a sharp increase in job vacancies in 2021, there was less than one unemployed worker per job vacancy, indicating that a lack of available workers may have limited further employment growth. Additionally, the difficult working environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic led to the burnout of many medical professionals. Moreover, the rapid spread of COVID-19 left many health care practitioners out sick or in isolation, creating substantial bottle necks in the health system. Hence, the analysis of these and other key labour market indicators suggests that the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings in this occupational group.Over the period 2022-2031, the number of job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) for Audiologists and speech-language pathologists are expected to total 6,400, while the number of job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) is expected to total 6,200.
As job openings and job seekers are projected to be similar over the 2022-2031 period, it is expected that the shortage between labour supply and demand seen in recent years will continue over the projection period. Job openings are projected to arise primarily from employment growth. Indeed, population growth will lead to an increased number of people with language disabilities, which is expected to translate into a stronger demand for audiologists and speech-language therapist services over the projection period. In addition, population aging and longer life expectancy are expected to increase the number of seniors using these professional services. As a result, steady employment growth is expected to continue, although at a slower pace than during the recent period and closer to the average of all occupations. Nearly 40% of all job openings are projected to arise from retirements, a proportion that is below the average of all occupations (50%) due to the below-average retirement rate.
With regard to labour supply, due to the highly specialized nature of this occupation, school leavers are expected to account for the vast majority of job seekers. Net mobility is expected to be negative for this occupation, resulting from the high level of specialization and the departure of workers for managerial positions in the health sector.
Projection of Cumulative Job Openings and Job Seekers over the Period of 2022-2031
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion Demand: | 3,000 | 47% |
| Retirements: | 2,400 | 38% |
| Other Replacement Demand: | 600 | 9% |
| Emigration: | 400 | 6% |
| Projected Job Openings: | 6,400 | 100% |
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| School Leavers: | 6,600 | 106% |
| Immigration: | 700 | 11% |
| Other: | -1,000 | -16% |
| Projected Job Seekers: | 6,200 | 100% |