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 : Occupational therapists & Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (3143)
- 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
-
- Occupational therapists (3143)
- Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (3144)
- Skill Type
- Health occupations
- Skill Level
- Occupations usually require university education.
- Employment in 2021
- 36,600
- Median Age of workers in 2021
- 37.9 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 stood near the 2.0% mark in 2021, well below the national average of 7.5%. As a result of the low unemployment rate (and limited number of unemployed workers) and a high, and growing, number of job vacancies, there was consistently less than one unemployed worker per job vacancy, limiting the ability of employers to fill vacancies. In addition, 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 all job openings in this occupational group.Over the period 2022-2031, the number of job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) for Occupational therapists & Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment are expected to total 9,100, while the number of job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) is expected to total 7,600.
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. Population growth and the rising share of older people will have an important impact on job creation in this occupational group. Indeed, occupational therapists play a key role in helping people manage various diseases, physical limitations, or other difficulties in order to accomplish daily tasks. Seniors are also more likely to rely on these professional services since it generally becomes more difficult to remain self-sufficient at a later age. 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. Moreover, 37% of all job openings are projected to arise from retirements. Pressures arising from these departures are expected to be among the lowest of all occupations, as workers in this occupational group are considerably younger than average.
With regard to labour supply, school leavers are expected to account for 94% of all job seekers over the projection period, while immigration is expected to account for the remaining 6%. Finally, net mobility is expected to be negative for this occupational group due to the departure of workers for roles as social policy researchers, consultants and program officers in addition to managerial roles in health care and public administration.
Projection of Cumulative Job Openings and Job Seekers over the Period of 2022-2031
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion Demand: | 4,300 | 47% |
| Retirements: | 3,300 | 36% |
| Other Replacement Demand: | 700 | 8% |
| Emigration: | 800 | 9% |
| Projected Job Openings: | 9,100 | 100% |
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| School Leavers: | 21,700 | 286% |
| Immigration: | 1,300 | 17% |
| Other: | -15,300 | -201% |
| Projected Job Seekers: | 7,600 | 100% |