Job prospects Cook in Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Job opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Cooks (NOC 63200) in Newfoundland and Labrador 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.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

Growth in this occupation will be generally due to a recovery in the food services industry from the COVID-19 pandemic. Job prospects will be better for candidates with substantial cooking experience. Although this is mostly an entry-level position and skilled trade certification is voluntary, individuals who have completed an apprenticeship or other culinary-related program may fare better in the job market, particularly in nursing care facilities. Individuals with several years’ experience preparing specific ethnic dishes will also have good job prospects given the growing cultural diversity in the province. Job openings for cooks can be seasonal with opportunities better in the summer months, particularly in rural areas where restaurant activity can be more reliant on tourism. Cooks may be required to work various shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays; therefore, flexibility is an asset in securing employment.

Here are some key facts about Cooks in Newfoundland and Labrador:

• Approximately 2,700 people work in this occupation.
• Cooks mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 64%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 9%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 7%
  • Accommodation services (NAICS 721): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 76% compared to 83% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 24% compared to 17% for all occupations
• 40% of cooks work all year, while 60% work only part of the year, compared to 56% and 43% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 35 weeks compared to 40 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of cooks are self-employed compared to an average of 8% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 48% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 52% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 16% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 37% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 22% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 23% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 14% 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 Newfoundland and Labrador 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 "cook" Cooks (NOC 63200) or across Canada.

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