Job prospects Bookkeeper in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "bookkeeper" 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 very good for Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Several 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?

• Employed in all major industries, but accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services account for the highest share of employment
• Significant shares are also in retail trade and construction

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• As accounting technicians and bookkeepers are employed across all industries, opportunities should be relatively consistent over the forecast period
• Improvements in artificial intelligence bookkeeping technology may affect employment for these workers over the longer term

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In addition to other formal education, candidates are usually required to be proficient in using accounting software such as QuickBooks

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Self-employment is relatively common
• Flexibility may be required to work overtime at the end of financial reporting periods and during the federal tax season
• In general:
  • Micro-credentials or short-term training courses and certification are being offered by post-secondary institutions to help job seekers upskill
  • Bridging Programs are also available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.

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

• Approximately 70,100 people work in this occupation.
• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (NAICS 5412): 30%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 9%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 7%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 65% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 35% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 67% of accounting technicians and bookkeepers work all year, while 33% 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.
• 30% of accounting technicians and bookkeepers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 18% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 82% 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: 25% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 33% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 24% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 8% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario 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 "bookkeeper" Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200) or across Canada.

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