Job prospects Secondary School Teacher in British Columbia
Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "secondary school teacher" 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 secondary school teachers (NOC 41220) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of 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.
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 secondary school teachers in British Columbia:
- Approximately 11,750 people work in this occupation.
- Secondary school teachers mainly work in the following sectors:
- Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): more than 95%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 87% compared to 78% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 13% compared to 22% for all occupations
- 89% of secondary school teachers work all year, while 11% 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 49 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 44% compared to 52% for all occupations
- Women: 56% 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: less than 5% 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: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
- bachelor's degree: 43% compared to 22% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 54% compared to 12% for all occupations
Breakdown by region
Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.
Legend
| Location | Job prospects |
|---|---|
| Cariboo Region | |
| Kootenay Region | |
| Lower Mainland–Southwest Region | |
| Nechako Region | |
| North Coast Region | |
| Northeast Region | |
| Thompson–Okanagan Region | |
| Vancouver Island and Coast Region |
Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology
Labour market conditions over the next 10 years
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