Job prospects Occupational Therapist (OT) in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "occupational therapist (OT)" in Ontario or Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

Note: These outlooks were updated on November 29^th, 2023. Learn more about our methodology.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Occupational therapists (NOC 31203) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Hospitals
• Occupational therapy clinics and offices

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Keeping the aging population in their place of choice is generating demand for occupational therapy services
• Increased focus on self management of chronic conditions
• Efforts to reduce opioid misuse by supporting alternative approaches to managing acute or chronic pain

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) is required

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Many employers also seek candidates that are willing to travel, have access to a vehicle and/or possess a valid Ontario driver’s licence.

Here are some key facts about Occupational therapists in Ontario:

• Approximately 7,200 people work in this occupation.
• Occupational therapists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 49%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 35%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 8%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 81% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 19% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 70% of occupational therapists work all year, while 30% 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 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 19% of occupational therapists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% 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: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 30% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 67% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "occupational therapist (OT)" in Ontario or Canada.

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