Job prospects 911 Dispatcher in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "911 dispatcher" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Dispatchers (NOC 14404) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 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.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Transportation companies, mainly in trucking
• Municipal governments, largely in emergency services like police, fire and ambulance

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The volume of goods requiring transportation is expected to be relatively steady
• Population growth may support the need for dispatchers in municipal emergency services
• Improved demand for taxi and limousine services as travel activity picks up
• Increased use of computerized and app-based dispatch systems may temper overall work in this occupation

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Experience with dispatch management software, switchboards, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is an asset
• Knowledge of Ontario’s highway system and routes may be beneficial for some positions.

Here are some key facts about Dispatchers in Ontario:

• Approximately 13,200 people work in this occupation.
• Dispatchers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 21%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 19%
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 9%
  • Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 8%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 91% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 72% of dispatchers work all year, while 28% 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.
• 6% of dispatchers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 41% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 59% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 7% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 30% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 17% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario 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 "911 dispatcher" Dispatchers (NOC 14404) or across Canada.

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