Job prospects Chef in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "chef" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Chefs (NOC 62200) in Nova Scotia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Long-standing vacancies in some regions have prompted some employers to try recruiting candidates outside of the province. While Red Seal certification is an asset, many employers are willing to hire skilled or experienced applicants who do not have it, or who are currently apprenticing. In the current labour market, qualified applicants should not have too much difficulty finding employment, though this will vary depending on which part of the province they are in. Some chef positions are with institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes. Further, some recruitment in this occupation occurs through personal networks, so jobseekers may benefit from enquiring with employers directly about opportunities in some cases.

Here are some key facts about Chefs in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 1,300 people work in this occupation.
• Chefs mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 75%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 6%
  • Accommodation services (NAICS 721): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 85% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 15% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 36% of chefs work all year, while 64% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 38 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 13% of chefs are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 74% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 26% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 8% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 26% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 20% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 32% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 10% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia 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 "chef" Chefs (NOC 62200) or across Canada.

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