Pharmacists (NOC 3131)

What They Do Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists perform some or all of the following duties: Industrial pharmacists perform some or all of the following duties: Participate in basic research for the development of new drugs Formulate new drug products developed by medical researchers Test new drug products for stability and to determine their absorption and elimination patterns Co-ordinate clinical investigations of new drugs Control the quality of drug products during production to ensure that they meet standards of potency, purity, uniformity, stability and safety Develop information materials concerning the uses, properties and risks of particular drugs Evaluate labelling, packaging and advertising of drug products Promote pharmaceutical products to health professionals. Check prescriptions for proper dosage Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication May supervise and co-ordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Retail trade 80% Health care and social assistance 18% Pharmacists work in community and hospital pharmacies, pharmaceutical firms, government departments and agencies, and pharmacies and other retail organizations. The unionization rate (26%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Pharmacists, Dietetitians and Nutritionists are found in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland while the lowest concentrations are in Prince Edward Island and British Columbia .

Related Occupation(s) Physical Science Professionals (NOC 211) Pharmacists, Dietitians and Nutritionists (NOC 313)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Keeping constantly updated in your specialty Improving interpersonal skills Learning business management Finding out about telemedicine

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need In general, you must have a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy. You also need supervised practical training. To be a community or hospital pharmacist, you need a licence in the province/territory where you'll work. Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Pharmacy (U570) Chemistry (U710) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Business and financial management Committee work Interpersonal skills Customer relations		Useful High School Subjects Chemistry Biology Math English Computer-related courses
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($32.47) are above the national average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (0%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely be significantly above average, occurring primarily in retail businesses. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You need to develop strong interpersonal (client-focused) skills because you'll likely spend more time providing information to consumers than filling prescriptions. You're more likely to be hired if you have knowledge of computerized databases. You'll have to update your knowledge continually to keep up with the rapid development of new drugs for treatment/diagnosis. You'll increase your opportunities with specialized training in research, disease management, and pharmaco-economics (determining the costs and benefits of different drug therapies).

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $20.07 $11.74 25-54 $33.37 $19.76 55+ $30.68 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $32.47 $18.07		Hourly wages ($32.47) are above the national average ($18.07). These earnings are above average for occupations in the health sector and above average for all professional occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Below the average
The unemployment rate (0%) is below the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for professionnal occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 1% 10% 1992 1% 11% 1993 1% 11% 1994 3% 10% 1995 1% 10% 1996 2% 10% 1997 2% 9% 1998 1% 8% 1999 2% 8% 2000 0% 7% 2001 1% 7% 2002 0% 8% 2003 1% 8% 2004 0% 7%

% of part-time work is about the same as average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 82% 81% Part-time 18% 19%		There were 23,600 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 16% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers is18% compared to the 2004 average (19%) and has dropped since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers is 15% compared to the 2004 average of 15% and has dropped significantly since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 15% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 3% 10% 25-54 86% 72% 55+ 11% 12%		The relatively low percentage of younger workers suggests few entry-level job openings, and could point to a greater need for workers with experience or a number of years of training. The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average reflecting the age/retirement structure of the occupation.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Average
The percentage of women is 59% compared to the 2004 average of 48% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 59% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31