Job prospects Massage Therapist (MT) in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "massage therapist (MT)" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Massage therapists (NOC 32201) in Nova Scotia 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 small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

The aging population has been a key factor supporting growth in demand for services, as well as expanding private medical insurance coverage. In addition to traditional employment settings such as spas, massage therapists are now an important part of wellness clinics working in conjunction with other health professions. The profession is physically demanding and can result in early-career attrition. Established massage therapists need to acquire new knowledge and complimentary techniques to broaden their scope of services, remain employable, and attract new clients. Some clinics have reported difficulty in filling vacancies, especially in smaller communities throughout Nova Scotia.

Here are some key facts about Massage therapists in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 1,200 people work in this occupation.
• Massage therapists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 87%
  • Personal and laundry services (NAICS 812): 11%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 64% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 36% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 24% of massage therapists work all year, while 76% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 38 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 64% of massage therapists are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 14% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 86% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 67% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 22% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology