Job prospects Registered Dietitian (RD) in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "registered dietitian (RD)" 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 moderate for Dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 31121) 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.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
• Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it difficult to find work.

Increasing public interest in nutrition has been creating more opportunities for this occupation in non-traditional fields. However, an abundant supply of new graduates from postsecondary programs means that competition for openings can be stiff, particularly in the public healthcare system. Jobseekers may benefit from including non-traditional employers in their search, and being flexible with respect to job location and hours.

Here are some key facts about Dietitians and nutritionists in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Dietitians and nutritionists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 52%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 19%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 17%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 87% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 13% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 76% of dietitians and nutritionists work all year, while 24% 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 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 8% of dietitians and nutritionists are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: less than 5% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: more than 95% compared to 49% 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 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
  • bachelor's degree: 67% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 26% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "registered dietitian (RD)" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

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