Job prospects Paramedic in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "paramedic" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Paramedical occupations (NOC 32102) in Nova Scotia for the 2024-2026 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.
• Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it easy to find work.

There is a growing need for emergency medical services in the province, in part due to the aging population. The majority of newly-trained paramedics, or those relocating to the province, are placed in communities around the province as filling positions in these areas has been difficult in the past due to a limited labour pool. The job market in Halifax and surrounding areas is more competitive, and these positions are often rewarded to experienced paramedics already employed with Emergency Health Services.

A recent collective agreement boosted wages considerably for primary, intermediate, and advanced care paramedics as well as transport operators. Improved compensation may ease long-standing challenges with recruitment and retention.

Here are some key facts about Paramedical occupations in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 1,250 people work in this occupation.
• Paramedical occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 83%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 11%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 5%
• 80% of paramedical occupations work all year, while 20% 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.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 68% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 32% 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: 6% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 20% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 57% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 14% 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 "paramedic" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

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