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 : Medical laboratory technologists & Medical laboratory technician and pathologists' assistants (3211)
- 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
-
- Medical laboratory technologists (3211)
- Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants (3212)
- Skill Type
- Health occupations
- Skill Level
- Occupations usually require college or vocational education or apprenticeship training.
- Employment in 2021
- 51,300
- Median Age of workers in 2021
- 41.2 years old
- Estimated Median Age of Retirement in 2021
- 62 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 in this occupational group was steady. The unemployment rate remained very low and stable, and stood at approximately 3.0% in 2021, limiting employment growth opportunities due to the lack of available workers. Meanwhile, over the same period, the number of job vacancies rose consistently. As a result of a rising number of vacancies and low unemployment, the ratio of unemployed workers to job vacancies was well below the average for all occupations, suggesting that a lack of available labour limited employment growth in this occupation. During the pandemic, there was a strong demand for workers to process test results related to COVID-19. In addition, the difficult working environment created by the 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 Medical laboratory technologists & Medical laboratory technician and pathologists' assistants are expected to total 25,600, while the number of job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) is expected to total 23,800.
As job openings and job seekers are projected to be relatively similar over the 2022-2031 period, the labour shortage conditions seen in recent years are expected to continue over the projection period. Job openings are projected to result from both employment growth (47%) and retirements (43%). Similar to most health occupations, employment growth is expected to be stronger than the average for all occupations. The growing number of seniors will lead to an increase in the demand for diagnostic services for various diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Moreover, the arrival of new medical technologies and techniques, as well as the introduction of more advanced equipment, will require more technologists. The retirement rate in this occupational group is expected to be in line with the national average.
With regard to labour supply, given the specific skills that are needed to work in this occupation, school leavers will account for the majority of job seekers (81%). Meanwhile, 15% of all job seekers are expected to come from immigration, and the remaining 4% are expected to arise from positive mobility from other technical occupations in the health sector.
Projection of Cumulative Job Openings and Job Seekers over the Period of 2022-2031
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion Demand: | 12,100 | 47% |
| Retirements: | 10,900 | 43% |
| Other Replacement Demand: | 1,400 | 5% |
| Emigration: | 1,200 | 5% |
| Projected Job Openings: | 25,600 | 100% |
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| School Leavers: | 20,400 | 86% |
| Immigration: | 3,900 | 16% |
| Other: | -500 | -2% |
| Projected Job Seekers: | 23,800 | 100% |