Job prospects Animal Care Technician in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "animal care technician" 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 good for Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many 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?

• The majority of these professionals work in veterinary services

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Increase in consumer spending on veterinary and other services, and a growing pet population
• Opportunities to support biosecurity and livestock disease prevention
• The use of telemedicine technologies under certain circumstances is expected to expand business prospects

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians regulates the professional standards of veterinary technicians and veterinary technologists
  • In order to use the designation ‘Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)’ in the province, candidates must meet the requirements of the Association, including successful completion of the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Some employment opportunities may also be available in universities, particularly in the Toronto, and Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie economic regions.

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

• Approximately 8,450 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): 89%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 81% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 19% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 63% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians work all year, while 37% 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 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 6% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 94% 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: 16% 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: 56% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 18% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario 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 an "animal care technician" Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) or across Canada.

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