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Cooks  (NOC 6242)
Northeast Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Cooks prepare and cook a wide variety of foods. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other health care institutions, central food commissaries, educational institutions and other establishments. Cooks are also employed aboard ships and at construction and logging campsites. Apprentice cooks are included in this unit group.

apprentice cook, cook, dietary cook, first cook, grill cook, hospital cook, institutional cook, journeyman/woman cook, licensed cook, line cook, second cook, short order cook.

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Cooks perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Prepare and cook complete meals or individual dishes and foods
  • Prepare and cook special meals for patients as instructed by dietitian or chef
  • Schedule and supervise kitchen helpers
  • Oversee kitchen operations
  • Maintain inventory and records of food, supplies and equipment
  • May set up and oversee buffets
  • May clean kitchen and work area
  • May plan menus, determine size of food portions, estimate food requirements and costs, and monitor and order supplies.
  • May hire and train kitchen staff

Cooks may specialize in preparing and cooking ethnic cuisine or special dishes.

Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Sudbury, Elliot Lake, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Algo, Blind River, Capreol, Cobalt, Englehart, Espanola, Garson Junction, Haileybury, Hearst, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake, Mattawa, New Liskeard, Nickel Centre, Parry Sound, Powassan, Temiskaming Shores, Thessalon, Valley East, Blezard Valley, Carol Richard Park, Connaught Hill, Dowling, Elmview, Finntown, Flake, Guilletville, Hanmer, Laurentien, Levack, Lively, McCrea Heights, Naughton, Parkwood, Pinecrest, Porcupine, Pottsville, South Porcupine, Val Caron, Val Therese

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Cooks in Northeast Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Cooks in Northeast Region as well as in the rest of the Ontario.
Location Employment Potential Release Date
Northeast Region Fair 2012-11-27

In the Northeast economic region, the outlook for cooks is expected to be average to good for the period 2012-2013. This is a large occupational group with close to 4,000 persons according to the 2006 census. Most job openings will arise due to the high turnover, as this is mostly an entry level position with a relatively young workforce. Some new opportunities may come from increased mining activities in the area, including those at exploration camps and remote operations. The occupation is over-represented in the region compared to other occupations, due to the significance of tourism activities. The region has many resorts and lodges, which offer seasonal employment.

In Ontario, the outlook for cooks is expected to be good for the period 2012-2013. Tourism and consumer spending drive demand in the food services industry, which employs most cooks in the province. In the last several years, consumers have been spending a larger share of their incomes eating out. Employment prospects are affected by economic conditions; consumers often spend less on dining out during more unstable periods. This is a relatively large occupation in Ontario with almost 63,000 cooks in the workforce (2006 census). A fair number of job openings are expected from high turnover, as this is mostly an entry level position with a relatively young workforce.

Demand related to tourist spending has moderated over the last few years due to a high Canadian dollar and rising gas prices. (The Ontario Ministry of Tourism estimates that about 20% of total visitor spending is on food and beverages.) Job openings for cooks are more plentiful in the more urban centres in the province, owing to the wider variety of food service establishments and other sectors employing cooks. Job openings are more seasonal in rural areas where resorts and tourist facilities may only open for one or more seasons. Employers in very remote parts of the province, who operate seasonally, often encounter difficulty recruiting and retaining cooks.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Please consult the Ontario and Canada tabs for more useful information related to outlook.