Job prospects Veterinarian in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "veterinarian" 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 very good for Veterinarians (NOC 31103) 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 of these professionals work in veterinary services
  • Self-employment is relatively high in this profession

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Increase in consumer spending on veterinary and related services, and a growing pet population
• Opportunities to support biosecurity and livestock disease prevention
• The use of telemedicine technologies under certain circumstances is expected to expand business prospects

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) regulates this profession, which means candidates must be licensed by the College to practise veterinary medicine in the province

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Individuals that work with larger animals such as horses and livestock may be required to drive to farms and ranches to provide veterinary services
• Ontario only has one post-secondary training institution that offers a degree in veterinary medicine.

Here are some key facts about Veterinarians in Ontario:

• Approximately 5,550 people work in this occupation.
• Veterinarians mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 91%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 86% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 14% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 75% of veterinarians work all year, while 25% 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.
• 42% of veterinarians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 35% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 65% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% 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 "veterinarian" in Ontario or across Canada.

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