Job prospects Cook in Ontario

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

Job opportunities in Ontario

Prospects over the next 3 years

Good

The employment outlook will be good for Cooks (NOC 63200) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

  • Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
  • A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

  • Full-service restaurants and limited service eating places
  • Nursing and residential care facilities

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • The high number of restaurants in the province will support opportunities for cooks
  • Investments in new nursing and long-term care facilities in Ontario
  • Elevated levels of travel and tourism activity expected over the forecast period
  • Opportunities in the ethnic cuisine market and specialized eateries

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • There are three voluntary skilled trades associated with this occupation in Ontario, namely, Cook, Assistant Cook, and Institutional Cook
  • Completion of an apprenticeship or culinary program or several years of commercial cooking experience may be required for some positions
  • Some employers may require cooks to complete a Food Handler Certification Program
  • Skill requirements can vary by place of work:
    • Limited-service restaurants may not require formal training or much experience
    • Full-service restaurants, catering companies, hotels, and nursing and long-term care facilities may require formal training and related experience depending on the duties.

Here are some key facts about Cooks in Ontario:

  • Approximately 52,600 people work in this occupation.
  • Cooks mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 77%
    • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 7%
  • The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
    • Full-time workers: 56% compared to 81% for all occupations
    • Part-time workers: 44% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • 34% of cooks work all year, while 66% 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.
  • 6% of cooks are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 62% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 38% compared to 48% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: 23% compared to 9% for all occupations
    • high school diploma or equivalent: 41% compared to 25% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 8% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 8% 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.

Legend

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Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
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Limited
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Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "cook" Cooks (NOC 63200) or Canada.

Learn more

Labour Market Information Survey
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