职业描述：Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Professionals (312)

Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals (312)

At Work
People in this group work in clinics, community health centres and hospitals, in private practice and as consultants in the private sector.
Optometrists examine patients' eyes, prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, and recommend eye exercises and other treatments.
Chiropractors diagnose and treat disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system with manipulation and other techniques and provide holistic health care.
Osteopathic physicians diagnose, treat and prescribe for patients' medical, surgical and obstetrical problems. Their training includes an emphasis on the use of the musculoskeletal system in restoring health.
This occupational group also includes orthoptists, naturopaths, podiatrists and chiropodists.

Education, Training and Experience
People in this group must complete either a college or university program and may require provincial licences and membership in professional associations.

Optometrists require a one-to-three-year college program with mathematics and science courses and a four-year university degree in optometry.
Chiropractors must complete three years' university science studies, obtain a degree from an accredited chiropractic college and pass the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board and provincial exams.
Orthoptists require two years' education after high school in a science specialization, two years' hospital-based training and supervised practical training.
Osteopathic physicians require a university degree, a four-year osteopathic medicine program and two to five years of postgraduate training.

About these Occupations
8,000 persons were employed in these occupations in 1996, an increase of 33.8% from 1986. Over the same period, employment in all occupations grew by 13.1%.

47% of these workers are chiropractors, and 42% are optometrists.
17% of workers in these occupations work part-time, compared to an average of 19% for all occupations. The proportion of part-time workers in these occupations has increased significantly over the last 10 years.
41% of workers in these occupations are self-employed, well above the average of 16% for all occupations.
51% of persons working in these occupations are women, compared to an average of 45% in all occupations. The proportion of women in these occupations has increased significantly over the last 10 years.
The unemployment rate in these occupations averaged 1.7% from 1994 to 1996, well below the average of 6.7% for all occupations. These rates are among the lowest for professional occupations and for occupations in health.
Average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in these occupations in 1995 were $57,600, well above the average of $35,700 for all occupations. These earnings are among the highest for professional occupations and for occupations in health.
Persons 15 to 29 years old make up a large proportion of new hires in these occupations, indicating that many new hires are recent graduates.
The separation rate in these occupations is low, indicating that workers tend not to lose or leave these jobs.
Employment in these occupations is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions and not seasonal.

Full-Time Earnings

1995 Full-Time Earnings*
$104,800 Highest
$57,600 Average
$15,100 Lowest

* Full-time earnings of the highest 10%, the average and the lowest 10% of workers. $35,700 is the average for all occupations.

Looking to the Year 2001
Current labour market conditions for new entrants in these occupations are good. Labour market conditions for new entrants will remain good through 2001.

The rising average age of the Canadian population will result in the need for more health services in these areas, increasing labour demand in these occupations.
People in these occupations should not be much affected by public sector decisions to curb health care costs, as most of them work in private practice in areas not covered by provincial health care plans. The rapid development of new diagnosing and treating technologies means that people in these occupations must continually update their skills.
Most of the increase in labour requirements through 2001 for these occupations will occur in private health practices.