Job prospects Veterinarian Assistant in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "veterinarian assistant" 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 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) 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.

There are some positive, long-term factors that suggest employment growth for this occupation. These include a greater awareness of advanced care options on the part of pet owners, better technological and medical solutions, a general willingness to spend more on animal care, and an increase in pet ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vacancies in the occupation may come about more from the general mobility of a younger workforce than from retirements. There is some indication employers in the province are having difficulty finding experienced workers, rarely seeing applicants with more than a year's worth of experience, as they compete with other provinces for qualified technicians.

Here are some key facts about Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 900 people work in this occupation.
• Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 83% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 17% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 61% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 39% 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 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 7% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 93% 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: 13% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 55% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 18% 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

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "veterinarian assistant" Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) or across Canada.

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