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Medical Laboratory Technicians
What they do?
Medical laboratory technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
A. Collect blood or other samples from patients
B. Receive tissue samples from patients
C. Log patient samples and prepare them for testing
D. Set up medical laboratory equipment
E. Conduct routine laboratory tests and sample analyses
F. Clean and maintain medical laboratory and medical laboratory equipment.
Where they find work?
1. Health care and social assistance - 82.0%
2. Scientific research and development services - 4.0%
3. Educational services - 4.0%
What education do I need?
1. To be a medical laboratory technician, you must have a high school diploma and on-the-job training, or complete a six- to fourteen-month program for technicians/assistants.
2. To be a combined laboratory and x-ray technician, you must complete a Combined Laboratory X-Ray Technology Program.
3. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma and almost 2 in 5 have an undergraduate university degree.
High School Subject that will help:
1. Math
2. Physics
3. Chemistry
4. Biology
What can you expect to make:
The average hourly wages for Medical Laboratory Technicians is $20.32/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the health sector and close to the average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Average Wage
Expected Wage by Age
Unemployment:
3% of Medical Laboratory Technicians are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.
Unemployment
Trends in Unemployment
Current Job Outlook:
The job outlook for Medical Laboratory Technicians is considered Average because:
1. Employment grew at a below-average rate.
2. Hourly wages ($20.32) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average.
3. The unemployment rate (3%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).
Future Job Prospects:
Your job outlook will continue to be Average because:
1. The employment growth rate is expected to be above average because of on going trends--a growing and aging population that requires more health services, new diagnosing/treating technologies, and increased government funding for health care. However, the increased use of automated diagnostic/treatment procedures will likely dampen employment opportunities.
2. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.
3. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.
Highest Concetration:
The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Medical Laboratory Technicians are found in Alberta and Quebec while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Unionization Rate:
The unionization rate (60%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations.
Useful Experience:
1. Business procedures
2. Interpersonal skills
Part Time Workers
Part time workers:
2% of Medical Laboratory Technicians are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 21,500 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 10% since 1997.
Age Demographics
Age Demographics:
The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average influenced by a similar-to-average age of workers (40).
