Job prospects Correctional Officer in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "correctional officer" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Correctional service officers (NOC 43201) in British Columbia 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.

Persistent shortages in this occupation are present throughout the province. There is increasing demand as recruitment is challenging.

Based on the Statistics Canada 2023 Crime Severity Index (2022-2023), B.C. experienced a decrease in violent crime (-4%) while non-violent crimes increased (+7%). Retail theft (shoplifting) valued at more than $5,000 in B.C. have been increasing.

Here are some key facts about Correctional service officers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 3,050 people work in this occupation.
• Correctional service officers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 45%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 45%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 78% of correctional service officers work all year, while 22% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 70% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 30% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 36% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 28% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 23% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "correctional officer" Correctional service officers (NOC 43201) or across Canada.

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