Home Support, Housekeepers, and Related Workers

(NOC 4412)

in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Home support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities, and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client's residence, in which the home support worker may also live. They work for home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings.

Job Outlook

Good

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  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 255 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

  • Estimate 1830 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5515 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

A growing emphasis on home delivery of health services, in conjunction with an aging population favours opportunities in this occupational group. There is typically a large number of openings, especially in rural areas, though many are part-time in nature. The health-care system is shifting people with chronic illnesses and disabling conditions away from hospitals and institutions towards more community-based home-care settings. This occupation does not include Continuing Care Assistants who work in hospitals and nursing homes, only those who provide care in private homes. Certificates may not be required for occupations in this group which do not provide medical services, such as housekeepers.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$21.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,866

Minimum

$21,303

Median

$42,294

Maximum

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Hourly Pay

$16.30

Minimum

$30.00

Median

$51.30

Maximum

Annual Pay

$5,616

Minimum

$44,335

Median

$92,599

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Home support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities, and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client's residence, in which the home support worker may also live. They work for home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings.

Job duties

Home support workers:

  • Provide care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, recovery, or family disruption.
  • Administer bedside and personal care to clients like aid in bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing.
  • Plan and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or help feed clients.
  • May do routine health-related duties like changing non-sterile dressings, helping administering medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse.
  • May perform routine housekeeping duties like laundry, washing dishes and making beds.

Housekeepers:

  • Perform housekeeping and other home management duties under general direction of employer.
  • Plan and prepare meals independently or with employer and may serve meals.
  • May care for children.

Sample job titles

  • doula
  • home health care worker
  • home support worker
  • home-care worker
  • housekeeper
  • live-in caregiver - persons with disabilities
  • personal care aide - home care
  • personal care attendant - home care
  • respite worker - home support
  • visiting homemaker

Skills

  • You should have good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. Patience and the ability to handle stressful situations may be needed. You must be efficient, yet sensitive to the needs of clients.

Job requirements

  • Some high school education is usually required.
  • College or other courses in home support may be required.
  • First aid certification may be required.
  • Completion of a training program in care of the elderly, care of persons with disabilities, convalescent care or in a related field may be required.

Other considerations

  • Employment opportunities are often part-time or casual, with shift work required. People in these jobs may be required to work in various locations over the period of a day. Home management experience may be required. There is mobility among the jobs in this group.

By the numbers

Quick look

3,380

employed in 2016

61.7%

employed full-time

9.0%

self employed

89.6%
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10.4%
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50.1

median age

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

55,420

employed in 2016

76.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

64.0%
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36%
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43.5

median age

Where will I likely work?

36.8%

Halifax

$21,219 median annual income
20.1%

North Shore

$23,301 median annual income
17.0%

Cape Breton

$22,986 median annual income
13.9%

Annapolis Valley

$20,546 median annual income
12.3%

Southern

$24,420 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

78.7%

Health care and social assistance

12.7%

Other services (except public administration)

2.2%

Public administration

1.1%

Retail trade

0.9%

Real estate and rental and leasing

What is the age of Employment?

26.0%

55-64

24.0%

45-54

17.0%

35-44

15.0%

25-34

10.0%

65+

7.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

24.2%

35-44

22.7%

45-54

21.4%

25-34

17.2%

55-64

8.4%

15-24

Top levels of education

35.2%

College Diploma

$26,132 median annual income
23.7%

High school

$17,353 median annual income
13.5%

Less than high school

$14,733 median annual income
12.4%

Trade Certification

$30,261 median annual income
11.7%

Bachelor

$24,249 median annual income

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

28.9%

Bachelor

$45,929 median annual income
21.2%

College Diploma

$35,398 median annual income
16.8%

Master

$71,043 median annual income
14.6%

High school

$29,055 median annual income
4.6%

Doctorate

$100,443 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Human Services

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepare students to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. They include courses in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Health Association of Nova Scotia
Bedford, NS

Additional resources