Job prospects Ecologist in Ontario

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This occupation includes job titles whose primary duties and responsibilities lead to positive environmental outcomes. Job Bank uses a list of occupations that were identified as "green" through a task-based analysis conducted by the United States’ Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which was recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and adapted to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) in Canada. This list may change over time. Learn more.

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "ecologist" 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 Biologists and related scientists (NOC 21110) 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.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Employed in a variety of sectors, but the leading share is in scientific research and development services
• Public administration, mainly federal government departments
• Manufacturing, mostly pharmaceutical and medicine production
• Health care, mainly hospitals

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Investments in life sciences and research, including the strengthening of the biomanufacturing sector
• Funding commitments to expand local vaccine manufacturing capabilities post pandemic
• Initiatives related to advancements in agriculture, to address the impact of climate change, wildlife management and to support the aquatic ecosystem
• The high levels of infrastructure projects planned to be undertaken across the province should bode well for environmental biologists to support impact assessments

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In addition to formal education, certifications such as Ecological Land Classification are assets to obtaining employment related to environmental work
• Experience in quality assurance and strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines are common requirements for microbiologists
• Bioinformaticians are required to be proficient in computer programming languages such as R and Python

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• There is a slowdown in work activities during the winter months for certain tasks
• Some biologists are required to travel to different locations and conduct field work, including in isolated areas, therefore flexibility will be an asset in securing employment.

Here are some key facts about Biologists and related scientists in Ontario:

• Approximately 9,050 people work in this occupation.
• Biologists and related scientists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 31%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 11%
  • Chemical manufacturing (NAICS 325): 11%
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 6%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 79% of biologists and related scientists work all year, while 21% 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 biologists and related scientists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 39% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 61% 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: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 34% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 61% 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 an "ecologist" Biologists and related scientists (NOC 21110) or across Canada.

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