Job prospects Academic Counsellor in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "academic counsellor" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Moderate for educational counsellors (NOC 41320) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

In the 2024/25 school year, there were about 600,000 students enrolled in public schools around the province, a 3.7% increase from the previous year. 

This was the highest enrollment figure since 1999. 

Persistent demand for teaching occupations remains at all levels of education in British Columbia. 

Some schools in the province have been experiencing a shortage of instructors. 

Investments in public school services around the province will improve employment opportunities in the educational services sector. 

In 2025, the Government of British Columbia opened new schools and announced school expansion projects in communities including the Cowichan Valley, Langford, Surrey, and Langley.

Here are some key facts about educational counsellors in British Columbia:

• Approximately 4,450 people work in this occupation.
• Educational counsellors mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 46%
  • Universities (NAICS 6113): 27%
  • Community colleges and C.E.G.E.P.s (NAICS 6112): 10%
  • Other schools and instruction (NAICS 6115-6117): 9%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 81% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 19% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 54% of educational counsellors work all year, while 46% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 7% of educational counsellors are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 23% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 77% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 7% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 8% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 28% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 55% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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