Job prospects Pharmacist in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "pharmacist" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Good

The employment outlook will be good for Pharmacists (NOC 31120) 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?

  • Pharmacies and drug stores
  • Hospitals

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • Greater need for medication management and overall health care services to support the growing and aging population in Ontario
  • Increased number of pharmacies and expanded services to improve access to care
  • Investments in health care facilities and hospitals

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists is required to practise

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends to meet client needs may be required.

Here are some key facts about Pharmacists in Ontario:

  • Approximately 16,200 people work in this occupation.
  • Pharmacists mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 77%
    • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 15%
  • The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
    • Full-time workers: 84% compared to 81% for all occupations
    • Part-time workers: 16% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • 76% of pharmacists work all year, while 24% 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 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
  • 23% of pharmacists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 41% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 59% 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: less than 5% 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: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 55% compared to 24% for all occupations
    • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 42% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Legend

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good
Location Job prospects
Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula Region Good
Kingston–Pembroke Region Good
Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie Region Good
London Region Good
Muskoka–Kawarthas Region Good
Northeast Region Good
Northwest Region Good
Ottawa Region Good
Stratford–Bruce Peninsula Region Undetermined
Toronto Region Good
Windsor-Sarnia Region Good

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 "pharmacist" Pharmacists (NOC 31120) or across Canada.

Learn more

Labour Market Information Survey
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