Job prospects Institutional Cook in Northwest Territories

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "institutional cook" in Northwest Territories or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Northwest Territories

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Moderate

The employment outlook will be moderate for Cooks (NOC 63200) in Northwest Territories for the 2024-2026 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 several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.
Due to the seasonal nature of this occupation, employment opportunities may vary depending on the time of the year.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 wildfires, the Northwest Territories' accommodation and food services sector has experienced labour shortages and some restaurants have struggled to remain open.
Cooks are forecasted as a top demanded occupation from 2021 to 2040 in the Northwest Territories, with 181 expected job openings (Government of Northwest Territories, 2023).
This occupation is often employed at remote worksites, including mining camps, as well as at restaurants and hospitals across the territory.
Infrastructure improvements may boost investment and tourism in the territory and lead to increased demand for food service occupations. For example, the federal government announced $25 million for the construction of an all-season road from Liard Highway 7 to the Prairie Creek mine. This road is expected to support investment and tourism in the area.
Cooks are a designated Red Seal trade in the Northwest Territories and are eligible for Red Seal Endorsement. Technical training outside of the Northwest Territories is required for this occupation.
Cook apprentices usually go to school in Alberta as no local training is available.

Here are some key facts about Cooks in Northwest Territories:

Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cooks mainly work in the following sectors:
- Tourism & Culture (NAICS 51, 71-72): 47%
- Health care and social services (NAICS 62): 16%
- Public Administration and Defence (NAICS 91): 15%
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 72% compared to 88% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 28% compared to 12% for all occupations
49% of cooks work all year, while 51% work only part of the year, compared to 71% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 37 weeks compared to 44 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 52% compared to 52% for all occupations
- Women: 48% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: 37% compared to 17% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 27% compared to 26% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 17% compared to 12% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 14% compared to 18% for all occupations
- bachelor's degree: n/a
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "institutional cook" Cooks (NOC 63200) or across Canada.