Job prospects Community Services Officer - Police in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "community services officer - police" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Moderate

The employment outlook will be moderate for Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

  • Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
  • A moderate number of 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?

  • Nearly all employed in public administration, mainly by municipal governments


What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • Recruitment activities are expected to be relatively steady in some areas to meet overall demand for policing services
  • Targeted hiring initiatives to improve diversity in the police workforce are also supporting opportunities
  • Budgetary considerations may affect the level of enrolment each year in the different regions


What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • Usually, at least high school  education
  • Most police services in the province require applicants to have the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Certificate


What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

  • Ontario has approximately 43 municipal police services and each region usually carries out its own staffing plan.

Here are some key facts about Police officers (except commissioned) in Ontario:

  • Approximately 28,250 people work in this occupation.
  • Police officers (except commissioned) mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 68%
    • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 20%
    • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 11%
  • 87% of police officers (except commissioned) work all year, while 13% 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 49 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 77% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 23% 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: 12% 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: 43% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 34% 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.

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

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "community services officer - police" Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100) or across Canada.

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Labour Market Information Survey
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