Job prospects Power System Electrician in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "power system electrician" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Power system electricians (NOC 72202) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Several 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?

• Electric power generation, transmission and distribution
• A smaller number work in utility system construction or as electrical building equipment contractors

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Investments in the utilities industry over the forecast period, will support opportunities in this occupation
• Large transmission projects to connect First Nations communities to the power grid in northern Ontario

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• There is one voluntary skilled trade associated with this occupation in Ontario, named, Relay and Instrumentation Technician.

Here are some key facts about Power system electricians in Ontario:

• Approximately 2,400 people work in this occupation.
• Power system electricians mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Utilities (NAICS 22): 85%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 12%
• 64% of power system electricians work all year, while 36% 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 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of power system electricians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% 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: 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 44% 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: less than 5% 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.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology