Job prospects Assistant Funeral Director in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "assistant funeral director" 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 Funeral directors and embalmers (NOC 62201) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
• Several 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?

• Funeral directors and embalmers work almost exclusively in the funeral services industry

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• A growing and aging population will continue to sustain demand for funeral services
• Changing consumer preferences from traditional funerals to other options may impact the roles of some of these professionals

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) regulates this occupation

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Only two Ontario colleges offer BAO-approved programs in Funeral Service Education.

Here are some key facts about Funeral directors and embalmers in Ontario:

• Approximately 3,500 people work in this occupation.
• Funeral directors and embalmers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Personal and laundry services (NAICS 812): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 89% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 11% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 80% of funeral directors and embalmers work all year, while 20% 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 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 14% of funeral directors and embalmers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 51% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 49% 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: 10% 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: 68% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 14% 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