Job prospects Dental Hygienist in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental hygienist" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111) in Nova Scotia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

There has been increasing demand for dental services throughout the province, supported by strong growth in population in recent years. Prospects vary across the province: while shortages persist in some communities, others—including the Halifax area—are thought to have a more balanced market for hygienists.

Many dental clinics hire hygienists directly, rather than post vacancies on job websites, so applicants may improve their prospects by checking with individual clinics. The number of jobseekers competing for a position may be greater in Halifax than in smaller communities. Full-time, part-time, and fill-in positions are often all available, increasing the chance that applicants will find a position with their preferred number of hours.

Here are some key facts about Dental hygienists and dental therapists in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 800 people work in this occupation.
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 80% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 20% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 36% of dental hygienists and dental therapists work all year, while 64% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 40 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of dental hygienists and dental therapists are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: less than 5% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: more than 95% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 55% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 34% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 11% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental hygienist" Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111) or across Canada.

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