Air pilots

Ontario

The employment outlook will be Good for air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600) in Ontario 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.What Types of Employers Are Out There?Air transportation companiesFederal governmentEducational servicesWhat are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?Improvement in the level of global air travelThe addition of new routes and increase in the frequency of flights to existing destinationsWhat Skills Do I Need to Succeed?Graduation from a certified flying or aviation school and a commercial pilot’s or air transport pilot’s licence are requiredFlight engineers require a Flight Engineer Licence issued by Transport CanadaWhat Other Information Will I Find Helpful?Air pilots typically start working for small regional airlines, and progression to larger commercial airlines is possible with experience.Here are some key facts about air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors in Ontario: Approximately 5,800 people work in this occupation. Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors mainly work in the following sectors: Air transportation (NAICS 481): 87% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 90% compared to 81% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 10% compared to 19% for all occupations64% of air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.5% of air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 14% compared to 25% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 8% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 47% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 27% compared to 24% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Newfoundland and Labrador

The employment outlook will be Good for air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600) in Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment decline will lead to the loss of a few 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.Difficulties finding pilots during COVID-19 due to pent-up demand for travel has been improving as the number of active airline pilots grew from 2,600 year-over-year in 2025 to almost 10,000 nationally. Moreover, the number of pilot licenses issued by Transport Canada nationally in 2024 was 936, the highest based on available data. Most employment opportunities are concentrated in the St. John's area. Here are some key facts about air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors in Newfoundland and Labrador: Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors mainly work in the following sectors: Air transportation (NAICS 481): 92% 60% of air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 56% and 43% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 40 weeks for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 89% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 11% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: 18% compared to 27% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 28% compared to 17% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 44% compared to 23% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 14% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Nova Scotia

The employment outlook will be Good for air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600) in Nova Scotia 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.Many pilots are employed by large commercial air carriers, whose hiring prospects reflect conditions across the country, while others are employed by the handful of smaller charter services that operate within Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Region. A shortage of pilots has persisted in Canada for the past several years, particularly among those with the qualifications and amount of experience required to fly for commercial airlines. This has resulted in improved hiring prospects for pilots in general, though opportunities for recently licensed pilots to accumulate flying hours may be more competitive. Here are some key facts about air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors in Nova Scotia: Approximately 550 people work in this occupation. Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors mainly work in the following sectors: Air transportation (NAICS 481): 95% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 93% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 7% compared to 18% for all occupations71% of air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors work all year, while 28% 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 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.6% of air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 93% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 7% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: 15% compared to 27% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 55% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 20% compared to 20% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a