Job prospects Patient Care Assistant in New Brunswick

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "patient care assistant" in New Brunswick or across Canada.

Job opportunities in New Brunswick

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102) in New Brunswick for the 2024-2026 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.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates are typically employed by hospitals, nursing homes and assisted care facilities for the elderly. Increased demand for health care services associated with an aging population is expected to be among the primary drivers of employment growth in this occupation. Shortages have been an ongoing issue throughout the province, meaning that new graduates should have little trouble finding employment. However, opportunities may be more abundant in rural areas. Being fluent in both official languages could increase one's chances of finding employment in certain areas.
• Training is typically provided on-the-job, though completion of a nursing aide or health care aide program through a college or private institution could improve one's chances of obtaining employment. Completion of specialized courses such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and first aid is usually required and some roles require a class 5 driver's licence.
• These jobs usually involve shift work and are often physically demanding, mainly in the form of transporting, lifting and turning patients.

Here are some key facts about Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates in New Brunswick:

• Approximately 6,700 people work in this occupation.
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 56%
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 17%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 14%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 78% compared to 84% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 22% compared to 16% for all occupations
• 64% of nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 13% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 87% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 9% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 31% compared to 30% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 21% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 28% compared to 23% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 16% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in New Brunswick by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "patient care assistant" in New Brunswick or across Canada.

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