Job prospects Counter Attendant, Restaurant in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "counter attendant, restaurant" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Limited for food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few 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.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Majority employed in restaurants, especially limited-service eating places
• Health care, mainly nursing and residential care facilities are also key employers

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Employee turnover should result in some job openings, as this is an entry-level occupation with a younger workforce and a high degree of part-time work
• However, consumer spending in restaurants is expected to be constrained due to economic uncertainty
• There could also be a fair amount of competition for jobs given weaker hiring activities by employers
• Investments in new nursing and long-term care facilities in Ontario could create some opportunities

Here are some key facts about food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations in Ontario:

• Approximately 145,000 people work in this occupation.
• Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 74%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 8%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 37% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 63% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 37% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations work all year, while 63% 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 34 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 35% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 65% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 27% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 44% 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: 14% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 9% 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

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