Job prospects Peace Officer in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "peace officer" 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 Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100) 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 small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

  • Nearly all employed in public administration, mainly by municipal governments


What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

  • Recruitment activities are expected to be relatively steady in some areas to meet overall demand for policing services
  • Targeted hiring initiatives to improve diversity in the police workforce are also supporting opportunities
  • Budgetary considerations may affect the level of enrolment each year in the different regions


What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

  • Usually, at least high school  education
  • Most police services in the province require applicants to have the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Certificate


What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

  • Ontario has approximately 43 municipal police services and each region usually carries out its own staffing plan.

Here are some key facts about Police officers (except commissioned) in Ontario:

  • Approximately 28,250 people work in this occupation.
  • Police officers (except commissioned) mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 68%
    • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 20%
    • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 11%
  • 87% of police officers (except commissioned) work all year, while 13% 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 49 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 77% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 23% 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: 12% compared to 25% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 8% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 43% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 34% 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 Moderate
Kingston–Pembroke Region Moderate
Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie Region Moderate
London Region Moderate
Muskoka–Kawarthas Region Moderate
Northeast Region Moderate
Northwest Region Moderate
Ottawa Region Good
Stratford–Bruce Peninsula Region Moderate
Toronto Region Moderate
Windsor-Sarnia Region Moderate

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "peace officer" Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100) or across Canada.

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Labour Market Information Survey
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