Job prospects Payroll Officer in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "payroll officer" 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 Payroll administrators (NOC 13102) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• Several 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?

• Employed across all industries

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Ongoing need for payroll services across businesses and departments will support work in this occupation
• Greater use of technology and outsourcing of certain payroll services may temper job growth and change some of the job functions

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Completion of college or industry courses in accounting, bookkeeping or payroll administration may be required
• Knowledge of payroll software, online payroll services, and ability to use spreadsheet applications may be required
• Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) certification from the National Payroll Institute may be a requirement

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Other industry-related certifications in accounting or human resources may be beneficial for job seekers.

Here are some key facts about Payroll administrators in Ontario:

• Approximately 19,150 people work in this occupation.
• Payroll administrators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (NAICS 5412): 10%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 8%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 90% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 10% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 80% of payroll administrators work all year, while 20% 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 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of payroll administrators are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 13% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 87% 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: 22% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 38% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 25% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 6% 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 a "payroll officer" Payroll administrators (NOC 13102) or across Canada.

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