Job prospects Dental Hygienist in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental hygienist" 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 good for Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many 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?

• Majority employed in dental offices

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Demand for dental services is influenced by dental insurance coverage rates, population growth, household incomes, and public awareness of oral hygiene
• Public-sector investments in affordable dental care should support job prospects
• The aging population is expected to increase the demand for geriatric dental care

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) regulates the profession

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Some positions will be for part-time work
• Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in Ontario
• Dental therapists do not practise in Ontario.

Here are some key facts about Dental hygienists and dental therapists in Ontario:

• Approximately 14,150 people work in this occupation.
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 67% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 33% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 25% of dental hygienists and dental therapists work all year, while 75% 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 37 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 10% of dental hygienists and dental therapists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: less than 5% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: more than 95% 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: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 76% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 13% 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

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental hygienist" Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111) or across Canada.

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