Employment Outlook

The employment outlook will be good for Paramedical occupations (32102) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several 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.

The demand for workers in this occupation will depend on growing health care needs driven by the aging population, growth in immigration, and government health care priorities. The prospects for employment in this occupation are good as the industry has reported shortages of workers in the province. An incentive for resident graduates from the Paramedicine program is that their tuition may be fully subsidized by the province subject to completing a work term in P.E.I.. 

The demand for these health professionals may be greater in rural and remote communities as it can be difficult to attract and retain these workers given the potential for more opportunities in urban areas. Population growth and a steadily aging demographic are expected to increase the need for medical emergency services and this will translate into greater prospects for this occupation. Because of the high stress levels of this occupation, which can include irregular hours and physically demanding tasks, some employment needs may arise from staff turnover. Employment growth in this field is influenced by the level of funding for emergency services in local areas therefore budgetary reductions can impact job prospects. 

To increase career opportunities, some primary care paramedics may consider further training to move to critical care or advanced care positions. In addition, some may specialize in certain areas of emergency response. Ambulance attendants and other paramedical occupations with a broad range of skills and several years of experience will have a more favourable outlook.

Here are some key facts about Paramedical occupations in Prince Edward Island:

• Approximately 200 people work in this occupation.
• Paramedical occupations mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 93% compared to 84% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 7% compared to 16% for all occupations
• 79% of paramedical occupations work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 61% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 39% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 6% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 17% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 56% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • bachelor’s degree: 14% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 6% compared to 8% for all occupa

Source: Job Bank

Prevailing Wages