Job prospects Organic Chemist in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "organic chemist" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Chemists (NOC 21101) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several 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?

• Chemical manufacturers mainly in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
• Scientific research and development firms

 

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Investments in the biomanufacturing and life sciences sectors, including in pharmaceutical research and production
• Need for chemical products and processes to support various sectors, such as food sciences, construction, and plastics and rubber products manufacturing
• Some opportunities may arise in petrochemical and industrial chemical manufacturing, particularly in the Windsor-Sarnia area of Ontario
• Investments in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain is expected to create opportunities for chemists to support EV battery research

 

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In addition to formal education, experience in a particular field of chemistry such as pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, or organic chemistry may be preferred
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) may be required to work in manufacturing settings.

Here are some key facts about Chemists in Ontario:

• Approximately 8,800 people work in this occupation.
• Chemists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Chemical manufacturing (NAICS 325): 42%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 12%
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 10%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 7%
  • Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 6%
• 80% of chemists work all year, while 20% 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 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of chemists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 51% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 49% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 46% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 50% 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 an "organic chemist" Chemists (NOC 21101) or across Canada.

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