Job prospects Water Utility Operator in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "water utility operator" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Moderate

The employment outlook will be moderate for Water and waste treatment plant operators (NOC 92101) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 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.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

  • Water, sewage and other systems


What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • Investments to upgrade and expand municipal water and wastewater infrastructure to support population growth and meet health standards across Ontario   
  • Improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure in First Nations communities in northern Ontario  
  • Regulatory change to ensure sufficient staffing levels in emergencies, also bodes well for these workers


What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • Certification is mandatory for operators in regulated drinking water systems or wastewater facilities through the Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO).  

Here are some key facts about Water and waste treatment plant operators in Ontario:

  • Approximately 3,450 people work in this occupation.
  • Water and waste treatment plant operators mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Utilities (NAICS 22): 67%
    • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6%
    • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 5%
  • 84% of water and waste treatment plant operators work all year, while 16% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 87% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 13% compared to 48% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
    • high school diploma or equivalent: 25% compared to 25% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 13% compared to 8% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 40% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 15% 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

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good
Location Job prospects
Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula Region Good
Kingston–Pembroke Region Moderate
Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie Region Moderate
London Region Moderate
Muskoka–Kawarthas Region Limited
Northeast Region Moderate
Northwest Region Limited
Ottawa Region Moderate
Stratford–Bruce Peninsula Region Limited
Toronto Region Moderate
Windsor-Sarnia Region Good

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "water utility operator" Water and waste treatment plant operators (NOC 92101) or across Canada.

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Labour Market Information Survey
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