Job prospects Emergency Medical Dispatcher in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "emergency medical dispatcher" 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 moderate for Dispatchers (NOC 14404) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 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.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Transportation companies, mainly in trucking
• Municipal governments, largely in emergency services like police, fire and ambulance

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The volume of goods requiring transportation is expected to be relatively steady
• Population growth may support the need for dispatchers in municipal emergency services
• Improved demand for taxi and limousine services as travel activity picks up
• Increased use of computerized and app-based dispatch systems may temper overall work in this occupation

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Experience with dispatch management software, switchboards, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is an asset
• Knowledge of Ontario’s highway system and routes may be beneficial for some positions.

Here are some key facts about Dispatchers in Ontario:

• Approximately 13,200 people work in this occupation.
• Dispatchers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 21%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 19%
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 9%
  • Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 8%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 91% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 72% of dispatchers work all year, while 28% 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 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 6% of dispatchers 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: 7% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 30% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 17% 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

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "emergency medical dispatcher" Dispatchers (NOC 14404) or across Canada.

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