National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Optometrists) is part of a larger occupational group called Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals (NOC 312).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.

Occupations in this group	Optometrists (3121)  Chiropractors (3122)  Other Professional Occupations in Health Diagnosing and Treating (3123)
Employment (non-student) in 2010	15,652
Median Age of workers in 2010	43
Average Retirement Age in 2010	61

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced a solid increase in employment. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 0% over this period. However the average hourly wage decreased. It was the lowest among health care professionals. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings in this occupation.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Optometrists, Chiropractors And Other Health Diagnosing And Treating Professionals, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 7,332 and 7,350 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that labour demand exceeded supply, it is expected that the number of job seekers in this occupation will remain insufficient to fill the job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Job openings will arise from both expansion demand and retirements. As the Canadian population ages, the demand for health services will increase greatly, thus resulting in increased demand for health professionals. In this respect, optometrist, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals will see employment growth above the average for all occupations. The retirement rate will also be high, given that these workers are older than the average for all occupations. However, the level and type of knowledge required for these occupations are so specialized that few workers from other occupations or from immigration can fill labour demand. As a result, most job seekers will come from the school system.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.

Category	Openings	%
Expansion Demand	2,944	40%
Retirements	3,299	45%
Other Replacement Demand	724	10%
Emigration	364	5%
Projected Job Openings	7,332	100%

Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.

Category	Seekers	%
School Leavers	4,688	64%
Immigration	363	5%
Other	2,300	31%
Projected Job Seekers	7,350	100%

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

Industry / Sector	%
Health care and social assistance	91.10
Retail trade	9.00

What percentage of people in this occupation are self-employed?

The graph displays the percentage of people in this occupation who are “self-employed”, according to the 2006 Census, in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

As shown in the graph, according to the 2006 Census, 80% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The Labour Force Survey also gives us some information about self-employment. This occupation (Optometrists) is part of a larger group called Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals (NOC 312). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 83% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

The data from the Labour Force Survey (2009) regarding the percentage of people in this occupation who are part of a union are not sufficiently reliable to be published.