Job prospects Bookkeeper in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "bookkeeper" 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 Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200) 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.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

This is a fairly large occupation, and so staff replacement generates a lot of the vacancies. Some difficulty in filling positions has been noted among employers. Those with two or more years of experience and current skills will have access to a wider range of jobs. Workers need to be versed in modern software accounting applications, and many positions now require workers to combine bookkeeping with other duties. Those with post-secondary education or a certification are sought by some employers.  There are also opportunities for persons in this occupation to be self-employed.

Here are some key facts about Accounting technicians and bookkeepers in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 4,050 people work in this occupation.
• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (NAICS 5412): 26%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 12%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 9%
  • Real Estate and rental and leasing (NAICS 53): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 67% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 33% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 68% of accounting technicians and bookkeepers work all year, while 32% 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 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 27% of accounting technicians and bookkeepers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 15% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 85% 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: 23% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 13% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 37% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 20% 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

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "bookkeeper" Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200) or across Canada.

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