3 Industries Hiring Right Now In Canada

It’s good practice to think about top industries and jobs providing top career opportunities. When planning out a career, you have to keep in mind the future. You don’t want to feel stuck five or ten years down the line because it’s really not worth it. Planning and thinking strategically becomes really important and worth the time.

If you want a job that meets your interest, does well in the economy and provides security, then keep reading! It’s important to keep in mind the times, what is currently in trend and how you can stay relevant. Since there is an aging population, it’s expected that there will be career positions to be filled in the nearest future.

To help you identify where those career opportunities are, we’ve shared top industries and careers in demand in Canada for the next few years.

1. Technology

Canada is increasingly seen as a tech utopia. The federal government makes it easier for Canadian and multinational tech firms to bring in skilled foreign workers by shortening approval visas and making work permits more readily available. The tech sector was identified as one of the largest of Canada’s economic sectors and continues to grow.

Software Engineer or Designer

Software Engineer or Designer is a technical career currently in high demand.  There is expected to be about 21,000 jobs to be created in software engineering between 2017 and 2026. No wonder you’ll keep seeing ‘We’re hiring‘ on LinkedIn profiles of people who work in tech companies. Recruiters are finding it hard to fill up such roles.

Some of the openings in tech are due to the need to replace workers who move into management, sales, or higher-level engineering positions. However, most of them will be due to new job creation which is noticeable with the tech boom.

With continuing growth in the telecommunications, computer, and mobile technology sectors, this will increase the demand for developers and engineers. It might be worth pursuing such opportunities in a career related to the design and development of software systems and applications. See the quick summary below:

• Total job openings—20,700
• Highest-demand provinces and territories—Saskatchewan, PEI, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec
• Median hourly wage—$43.27
• Highest-paying provinces and territories—Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba
• Typical entry-level education—Bachelor’s degree

While you may not be interested in being a developer, the growth in tech has equally created new career options and roles where you basically help clients utilize technology. There are now roles in customer success, sales or account management, digital marketing, sales engineering, etc.

2. Service

The service industry in Canada is diverse and accounts for close to 70% of the Gross Domestic Product ‘GDP‘. There are more than 12% of Canadians working in the retail sector. Next is the business services sector which includes real estate, financial services, and communications. Education and healthcare are two of Canada’s largest sectors but are both predominantly under government influence. Healthcare is currently the third-largest sector in the country. Tourism also ranks as a vital component of the Canadian service industry. The fastest-growing aspect of Canada’s tourism sector is casino gaming which as of 2001 had employed 41,000 people and was churning out $5 billion annually.

Licensed Practical Nursing

In the Health sector, Licensed Practical Nursing is one of the top lists of the most in-demand jobs. Although the licensed practical nurse (LPN) workforce is younger than the Registered Nurses, a growing number of retirements is still expected in the coming years. In fact, from 2017 to 2026, about 4,300 LPN jobs could go unfilled across the country due to a labor shortage. If this is an area of interest for you, becoming an LPN could be an incredible opportunity.

• Total job openings—32,400
• Highest-demand provinces and territories—BC, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, and Alberta
• Median hourly wage—$26
• Highest-paying provinces and territories—Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba
• Typical entry-level education—Diploma and registration with a provincial or territorial regulatory authority

Nursing

Nursing is also on the top of the list for a number of reasons which include the fact that baby boomers are reaching retirement age as well as the overall aging population. In 2016, the median age of registered nurses (RNs) in Canada was almost 42. Roughly half of the RN workforce is between about 42 and 65 years old. A substantial number of RNs retire before the age of 65. From 2017 to 2026, there could be a shortage of about 13,200 registered nurses across the country.

• Total job openings—157,100
• Highest-demand provinces and territories—Good for most except in Nunavut, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, where demand is fair
• Median hourly wage—$37
• Highest-paying provinces and territories—Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and the Yukon
• Typical entry-level education—Bachelor’s degree and registration with a provincial or territorial regulatory authority

Read: 7 Medical Careers That Will Boom In Future

Business Management Consultant

There is an expanding global marketplace which is competitive as expected. To achieve business goals, businesses often hire management consultants to help them. The number of retirements in this sector is expected to be higher than average through 2026 and therefore opens career opportunities for you.

Many people start out by earning a business-related degree and then gain experience by working in a variety of different industries and positions. But management consultants can also benefit from having training in areas like technology, hospitality, etc. depending on the areas in which they want to specialize. So you really could have a lot of options.

• Total job openings—39,900
• Highest-demand provinces and territories—BC, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, and Saskatchewan
• Median hourly wage—$36.06
• Highest-paying provinces and territories—Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario
• Typical entry-level education—Business-related diploma or bachelor’s degree, combined with relevant industry experience

3. Manufacturing

Although the global financial crisis took its toll on Canada from 2008 to 2010, the country’s manufacturing industries make up for 14% of Canada’s GDP. American and Japanese auto industries are attracted to Canada’s highly educated workforce and low labor costs, making it a go-to destination for automobile manufacturing. Automotive parts production is one of the fastest-growing manufacturing sectors in the country.

Industrial Electrician 

Industrial electricians, in particular, are in high demand. In fact, from 2017 to 2026, up to 1,200 industrial electrician jobs could go unfilled because of a lack of qualified workers. That’s due to a combination of workers retiring, taking promotions, and moving on to other electrician positions and different careers.

As mining, gas operations, and manufacturing become more automated, more industries rely on industrial electricians. You can look into the job of installing, testing, maintaining, and repairing industrial machines and equipment.

• Total job openings—14,500 (includes power system electricians)
• Highest-demand provinces and territories—Nova Scotia
• Median hourly wage—$33.16
• Highest-paying provinces and territories—Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC
• Typical entry-level education—Completion of vocational training or an apprenticeship program; trade certification may also be required

These are just a few of the career opportunities available in these industries. If you want to look further, check out the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS).

With this information, the next step to take is asking what you are passionate about and whether you have the right education or training needed to pursue a career in it. We always share on this platform that anything is possible as long as you put your mind and heart to it, you can achieve it! Give this some thought and begin to work towards your goals.

Does any of this role or industry interest you? What are you currently doing to grow your career in this path? Feel free to share below. If you have any questions, don’t be a stranger, feel free to contact us and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog for exclusive updates right in your inbox. There won’t be spams, we promise.