Job prospects Secondary School Teacher in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "secondary school teacher" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220) in Nova Scotia for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few 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.

Growth in the number of positions in the public education system is generally limited by budgetary pressures, though recent growth of the school-aged population has resulted in the creation of new positions. Opportunities may vary depending on a jobseeker's teachable subjects. Teachers with French and/or Math backgrounds are in highest demand, and some opportunities for teaching English as a Second Language has been noted. It can still be challenging for many new teachers to secure a permanent position, and it may require being mobile, as there can sometimes be less competition in rural or isolated communities. Shortages of substitute teachers still periodically occur, creating opportunities for new graduates who have not yet secured a full-time position to gain some experience. Enrolment in private schools has been expanding and this is expected to continue, offering additional job opportunities, mostly in the Halifax area.

Here are some key facts about Secondary school teachers in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 3,250 people work in this occupation.
• Secondary school teachers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 93% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 7% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 95% of secondary school teachers work all year, while 5% 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 50 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 41% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 59% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 42% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 55% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

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 "secondary school teacher" Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220) or across Canada.

Learn more