Food counter attendants and food preparers

Nova Scotia

The employment outlook will be Good for food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a few 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.High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.The labour shortages that plagued the food services sector in recent years has eased considerably for some positions like food counter attendants. Even so, the large size of this occupation and regular turnover mean that opportunities occur regularly in most communities in the province.Prospects are good for individuals looking for work as a food counter attendant, however some conditions of employment may be a deterrent to applicants, such as long or irregular hours and seasonality.Here are some key facts about food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations in Nova Scotia: Approximately 10,250 people work in this occupation. Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations mainly work in the following sectors: Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 73%Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 8%Hospitals (NAICS 622): 6% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 49% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 51% compared to 18% for all occupations39% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations work all year, while 61% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 36 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.Less than 5% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 33% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 67% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 27% compared to 10% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 46% compared to 27% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 20% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations

Prince Edward Island

The employment outlook will be Good for food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.The prospect for employment in this occupation is good as there continues to be a shortage of workers and unfilled vacancies in the province. Employers rely on the Temporary Foreign Worker program to fill temporary jobs/vacancies in this occupation when qualified Canadian labour is not available. Employment opportunities are expected primarily from a high labour turnover rate, which can be explained by challenging working conditions and a young and mobile labour force. Here are some key facts about food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations in Prince Edward Island: Approximately 1,750 people work in this occupation. Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations mainly work in the following sectors: Food services and drinking places (NAICS 722): 71%Hospitals (NAICS 622): 10%Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 9% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 52% compared to 84% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 48% compared to 16% for all occupations41% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations work all year, while 59% 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 36 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.Less than 5% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 28% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 72% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 31% compared to 11% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 41% compared to 28% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 15% compared to 25% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 17% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations

Northwest Territories

The employment outlook will be Moderate for food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (NOC 65201) in Northwest Territories for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.Most job opportunities in this occupation are in the Yellowknife area.Employers in Yellowknife have struggled to fill vacancies in this occupation in 2025.In the Northwest Territories, this occupation can be employed to support the workforce in industrial settings, such as at mining camps.From 2021-2040, 202 job openings are forecast for food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations in the Northwest Territories (Government of Northwest Territories, May 2023).Here are some key facts about food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations in Northwest Territories: Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations mainly work in the following sectors: Tourism & Culture (NAICS 51, 71-72): 71%Health care and social services (NAICS 62): 10%Wholesale and Retail Trade (NAICS 41, 44-45): 8% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 50% compared to 88% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 50% compared to 12% for all occupations35% of food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations work all year, while 65% work only part of the year, compared to 71% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 32 weeks compared to 44 weeks for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 49% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 51% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 50% compared to 17% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 31% compared to 26% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 9% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 6% compared to 18% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations