Job prospects Cook's Helper in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "cook's helper" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of 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.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Majority employed in restaurants, especially limited-service eating places
• Health care, mainly nursing and residential care facilities are also key employers

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Population growth in several areas of the province is resulting in new food service operations
• Significant investments and expansions in the health care and social assistance industry, including nursing and residential care facilities and hospitals
• Employee turnover is expected to create a steady number of job openings, as this is an entry-level occupation with a younger workforce and a high degree of part-time work

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Flexibility is an asset as many employers require staff to work evenings, weekends, and holiday shifts.

Here are some key facts about Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations in Ontario:

• Approximately 138,850 people work in this occupation.
• Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 73%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 8%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 37% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 63% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 37% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations work all year, while 63% 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 34 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations 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: 27% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 44% 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: 14% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 9% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% 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 "cook's helper" Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) or across Canada.

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