Job prospects Probation Officer in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "probation officer" 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 moderate for Probation and parole officers (NOC 41311) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
• 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.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• The provincial and federal governments

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The availability of funding for reintegration and rehabilitation programs for youth
• Adult and youth admissions to correctional services in Ontario have generally declined in recent years

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Candidates seeking positions with the Government of Ontario as probation and parole officers are required to have an accredited bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or criminology
  • More than five years of experience in social or correctional services is also required.

Here are some key facts about Probation and parole officers in Ontario:

• Approximately 2,000 people work in this occupation.
• Probation and parole officers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 66%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 31%
• 90% of probation and parole officers work all year, while 10% 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 50 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 23% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 77% 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: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 83% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 13% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology