Job prospects Professional Land Surveyor in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "professional land surveyor" 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 Land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• The majority are employed in architectural, engineering and related services
• Construction

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Demand mostly driven by investments in public infrastructure, residential expansion, land development and revitalization
• Large investments planned and being undertaken in health care and educational facilities
• Significant public-sector funding for transit infrastructure projects
• Population growth, which is resulting in high levels of new residential construction in various areas of the province

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Professional land surveying includes different specializations, and the category ‘Cadastral Surveying’ (legal boundary) is associated with the land surveyor occupation
• Cadastral surveying is regulated by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS) and only licensed members can use the title “Ontario Land Surveyor” and carry out cadastral surveys in Ontario
• A person who is not licensed may perform work within the practice of cadastral surveys but under the direction, and supervision of a licensed member.

Here are some key facts about Land surveyors in Ontario:

• Approximately 2,000 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 72%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 16%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 92% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 8% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 66% of land surveyors work all year, while 34% 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 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 10% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 7% 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: 14% 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: 37% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 37% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 7% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology