Job prospects Research Psychologist in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "research psychologist" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Psychologists (NOC 31200) in Quebec for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employment in this occupation depends on the demand for psychological care and government spending on these services.

In recent years, the demand for psychological care has increased sharply, both in the health care network, educational institutions, and in private practice. A reduction in the stigma associated with mental illnesses in the public arena is one of the many factors behind the demand for access to these professionals. Long wait times are no longer unique to the public sector, as they now apply to consultations in private practice.

The government announced its plan to expand and improve mental health services for the entire population with additional investments.

Expanded insurance coverage for psychological care and the increased availability of employee assistance programs are also continuing to stimulate demand for professionals in private practice.

In recent years, vacant positions in the public sector have been difficult to fill, especially due to the pull of private practice. To support recruitment and train more professionals, the government has introduced new scholarship programs that are available to future doctoral graduates in psychology. In Quebec, only doctoral graduates are allowed to use the title of psychologist.

Here are some key facts about Psychologists in Quebec:

• Approximately 5,550 people work in this occupation.
• Psychologists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 50%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 21%
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 13%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 71% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 28% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 60% of psychologists work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% 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.
• 50% of psychologists are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 21% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 79% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec 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 a "research psychologist" in Québec or across Canada.

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