About the job
Employment counsellors and career development practitioners provide information and help to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. Employment counsellors and career development practitioners are employed by human resource departments of establishments, employment service organizations, consulting firms, correctional facilities and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of employment counsellors are included in this group.
- Interview clients to obtain employment history, educational background and career goals.
- Identify barriers to employment and assist clients with such matters as job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing resumes and preparing for job interviews.
- Assess need for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid or further training and refer clients to the appropriate services.
- Provide established workers with information and strategies for maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction, making mid-career changes and adjusting to workplace transitions.
- Collect labour market information for clients regarding job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information.
- Advise employers on human resource and other employment-related issues.
- Provide consulting services to community groups and agencies, businesses, industry and other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning support or resources.
- May administer and interpret tests designed to determine the interests, aptitudes and abilities of clients.
- career coach
- career counsellor
- career development practitioner
- career resource centre co-ordinator
- case manager
- employer engagement specialist
- employment counsellor
- employment maintenance worker
- job coach
- job counsellor
- job developer
- workforce development officer
- workshop facilitator
To work in this field, you should have an interest in the welfare of others and a desire to help them. Patience, maturity, and good listening skills are important. You must be able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Leadership, reasoning and decision-making skills are also necessary. An understanding of human nature is also important.
- A bachelor's degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
- A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
Mobility to positions in personnel or training is possible. Progression to supervisory positions is possible through experience.
Labour Market Information
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow moderately over the next few years, which will likely provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions. With employment conditions being somewhat seasonal, periods of downtime or layoff throughout the year affect some workers.
The median employment income for 62% of Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $43,225. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) | 395 | Moderate growth | 45 | High | Minimum: $17.00 Median: $21.85 Maximum: $32.82 | Minimum: $8,933 Median: $39,095 Maximum: $65,380 |
Occupations in Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services | 55,420 | Moderate growth | 4,880 | Low | Minimum: $14.00 Median: $26.88 Maximum: $46.15 | Minimum: $5,616 Median: $44,335 Maximum: $92,599 |
Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) | Compared to: Occupations in Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services | |
Percent employed full-time | 89% | 79% |
Percent self-employed | 5% | 6% |
Area of Employment | Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
% Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
Southern | 5% | x | 12% | $30,581 |
Northern | 14% | $34,829 | 16% | $33,660 |
Cape Breton | 15% | $33,463 | 13% | $32,974 |
Halifax | 48% | $37,780 | 47% | $41,209 |
Annapolis Valley | 18% | x | 13% | $32,958 |

Age | Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) | Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services |
% Employed | % Employed | |
15-24 | x | N/A |
25-34 | 5% | 5% |
35-44 | 26% | 37% |
45-54 | 57% | 29% |
55-64 | 10% | 24% |
65+ | x | 5% |
Median Age | 45 | 44 |

Gender | Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) | Compared to: Occupations in Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services |
% Employed | % Employed | |
Female | 77% | 64% |
Male | 23% | 36% |
Education | Career Practitioners (Employment Counsellors) | Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services | ||
% Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
Less than high school | N/A | x | 2.8% | $11,346 |
High school | 19.1% | x | 14.3% | $25,801 |
Trades certificate | N/A | x | 4.2% | $35,678 |
College certificate or diploma | 18.0% | x | 21.5% | $28,183 |
University certificate or diploma | 4.5% | x | 2.6% | $35,967 |
Bachelor's degree | 42.7% | $75,902 | 29.2% | $43,533 |
University advanced certificate or diploma | 5.6% | x | 3.4% | $47,801 |
Master's degree | N/A | x | 17.2% | $35,978 |
Doctorate | 10.1% | x | 4.6% | $60,991 |
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | N/A | x | 0.2% | $83,456 |
Total | 100% | 100% |
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the application of principles of learning and behaviour to enhance the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults; and that prepares individuals to address the behavioural needs of individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities and autism. These programs include courses in behaviour analysis and learning, behavioural and functional assessment, developmental psychology, applied behavioural analysis in developmental disabilities and autism, applied behavioural analysis in mental health and aging, research methods, evaluation of interventions, and professional and ethical issues.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to apply the theory and principles of guidance and counselling to the provision of support for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions. These programs include courses in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counsellor intervention, vocational counselling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to apply integrated training, organizational development, and career planning and counselling skills to the design, management, and evaluation of programs to improve individual productivity, employability, and job satisfaction and organizational effectiveness. These programs include courses in psychology; organizational behaviour; principles of adult education; occupational counselling; skill testing and evaluation; program design; consulting practice; organizational development; and applications to issues such as training, management development, customer service, and total quality management.
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. These programs include courses in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to relationships among nations and among governments and non-governmental entities. These programs include courses in international politics, governance, financial policy, and security affairs; globalization; economic and social policies of developing nations; and applications to specific public policy topics such as labour and employment, immigration, and human rights.
This instructional program class comprises any general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behaviour, the physical and environmental bases of behaviour, and the analysis and treatment of behaviour problems and disorders. These programs include courses in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counselling, and that focuses on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. These programs include courses in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counselling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counselling.
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. These programs include courses in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
There are no additional resources for this occupation.