Job prospects Environmental Health Officer in Ontario

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This occupation includes job titles whose primary duties and responsibilities lead to positive environmental outcomes. Job Bank uses a list of occupations that were identified as "green" through a task-based analysis conducted by the United States’ Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which was recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and adapted to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) in Canada. This list may change over time. Learn more.

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "environmental health officer" 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 Public and environmental health and safety professionals (NOC 21120) 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.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Employed in all major industry categories, but the leading share is in public administration, mainly federal and provincial government departments
• Health care service providers, mostly out-patient care centres

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Ongoing concerns and regulations related to food, environmental, and workplace safety should support demand for these inspectors
• Mandatory inspections at restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions to maintain enhanced public health standards

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In Ontario, public health inspectors require certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.

Here are some key facts about Public and environmental health and safety professionals in Ontario:

• Approximately 2,500 people work in this occupation.
• Public and environmental health and safety professionals mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 17%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 11%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 10%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 7%
  • Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 93% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 7% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 76% of public and environmental health and safety professionals work all year, while 24% 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 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 50% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 50% 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: 9% 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: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 45% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 23% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology