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CIC News / 2013 / March / “Where the Jobs Are” in Canada

“Where the Jobs Are” in Canada

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Public discussion has been growing over a report recently published by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). The report indicates a growing divide between the number of high-vacancy job fields in Canada and the skills of the Canadian workforce. To combat labour shortages, Canadian employers and government officials are increasingly looking beyond their own borders to find the employees they need. In addition, the government is taking ambitious efforts to secure skilled foreign workers, on temporary or permanent bases, to close employment gaps across the country.

In its report, CIBC targeted 25 professions that are most in need of qualified employees. They are as follows:

  • Managers in Engineering, Architecture, Science and Info Systems
  • Managers in Health, Education, Social and Community Services
  • Managers in Construction and Transportation
  • Auditors, Accountants and Investment Professionals
  • Human Resources and Business Service Professionals
  • Professional Occupations in Natural and Applied Science
  • Physical Science Professionals
  • Life Science Professionals
  • Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineers
  • Other Engineers
  • Professional Occupations in Health
  • Physicians, Dentists and Veterinarians
  • Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals
  • Pharmacists, Dietitians and Nutritionists
  • Therapy and Assessment Professionals
  • Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses
  • Technical and Related Occupations in Health
  • Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health)
  • Technical Occupations in Dental Health Care
  • Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental)
  • Psychologists, Social Workers, Counsellors, Clergy and Probation Officers
  • Supervisors, Mining, Oil and Gas
  • Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers
  • Supervisors in Manufacturing
  • Supervisors, Processing Occupations

These occupations are all considered skilled work by the Government of Canada. In general, these professions fall in the fields of healthcare, mining, and manufacturing or business services. When added together, these fields account for 21%, or about one-fifth, of jobs in Canada.

Canada’s need for qualified workers varies greatly from province to province. As demonstrated by the chart below, the need is most defined in the country’s rapidly-developing interior. It is reflective of Canada’s booming natural resources economy.

Source: CIBC 

Canadian employment is still on the rise. In fact, employment grew by 51,000 in February 2013 alone. However, despite these increases, the country is unable to fill shortages in the fields listed above with home-grown talent alone. Analysts have theorized that this lack of qualified Canadians is the result, in part, of individuals pursuing education and training in professions that are experiencing a labour surplus. These include occupations in the fields of clerical work, food services, recreational guides, personal services and sales. Due to this surplus, individuals in these fields may see greater unemployment as well as wages slightly below average.

By contrast, those who pursue employment in one of the above targeted professions have a high likelihood of employment. At present, unemployment in this pool is a mere 1%. Additionally, wages in these fields have been rising steadily at a rate of about 4% per year.

The Canadian government has made efforts to offset employee shortages through a forward-thinking immigration system. Individuals with the education and skills most needed in Canada will find that programs for both temporary and permanent residence have been tailored to suit their profiles. Some recent immigration changes intended to bring in the workers Canada include:

  • The popular Federal Skilled Worker Program has overhauled its selection criteria to better target those individuals who have a high likelihood of succeeding upon arrival in Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada hopes to accept over 50,000 new permanent residents through this program alone in 2013.
  • A new class of immigration, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, has been created to more efficiently bring tradespersons to Canada.
  • Discussions are currently in place regarding the introduction of a new immigration system, known as an Expression of Interest system, that will directly connect Canadian employers and government officials with skilled workers interested in immigrating to Canada.

More than ever, Canada needs immigrants to fill the jobs that Canadians are unable to perform. These jobs are for the most part in well-paying fields with high wages and employment. Individuals with skills in these fields may find themselves well-placed to take advantage of Canada’s many options for temporary or permanent residency.

You can search for jobs in Canada with the Canadavisa Job Search Tool. 

To find out if you are qualified for one of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out a free online assessment. 

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Comments

  1. Thanks for your news. I have question about : Managers in Health, Education, Social and Community Services. I am an music educator and performer. Do you mean the manager of education equal to the administration staffs in universities or high school..etc ? Schools do not hire manager. So do you mean the position : principle, dean of the administration..etc.

    Thanks

  2. Sir/Madam:

    My wife and me are so interested to be in Canada permanently. Unfortunately we can’t find the way of getting in, in particular, we are peculiary shortage. We have a lot of dreams and hoping that dreams will be fullfilled thru Gods interventions.

    Sincerely,

    Paul

  3. Hi David,

    It is unfortunate that CIC is taking record number of immigrants each year ( surpassing the previous year numbers), but on the contrary jobs are not being practically provided to the immigrants. I spoke to various recruiters, consultants and HR ppl, and they say the immigration numbers are not being transformed into employment opportunities. This is truly excruciating pain especially jobs in dentistry and Pharmaceutical industry for doctors (drug safety physician). What are these people going to do after coming to Canada without jobs, and its a bleak sign to start up a new life for those who have come with lot of aspirations, On the other hand, surveys and other sources portray, good employment is still existing, and why these contradicting and ambiguous figures. Canada says there is dearth for Canadian ppl, and they want to hire for the existing jobs foreigners as temporary residents. Don’t u think this is truly misleading numbers and figures….Please clarify.

  4. as a graduate student with my research topic on immigrants in the labour market, it is interesting to know of these trends. I just hope policy makers address the increasing disparity in wages among immigrants and their Canadian counterparts.

  5. Hi i am the one looking for job in canada

  6. After perusing all the 25 professions that are most in need of qualified employees in Canada, I sadly discovered that Urban and Regional Planners are excluded. Does it imply that:
    1. these professionals are not relevant in Canada?
    2. no employment for them in FSWP scheme?
    3. what is the relationship between Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)

  7. please i have been facing problems concerning getting a job offer,please i don’t know whether you can help me in getting a job offer,thanks

  8. Hi,

    These figures are really misleading.

    If these figures are really true then I wonder why my PR application (FSWP) in the occupation list of Auditors, Accountants and Investment Professionals, Human Resources and Business Service Professionals is still pending for last 3 years?

    There is certainly a disconnect in reality and statistics.

    Regards,
    SK

  9. I want to work in Canada, am a 36years old Sierra Leonean by nationality, I want to stay and work in Canada.Thank you

  10. M really interested to coming to Canada can any one help to get a job offer in there???

  11. Hi Sir,
    I am looking for a job in Canada and I am very much interested about the available opportunities.

  12. Oh! the listed professions are key to ongoing development and economic growth in canada.the Canadian immigration policy resulted the best fruits.so it is good the public discusion to continue; because it is healthy way to get solution.
    Don’nt forget that Canada is home for homeless,and hope for hopeless

  13. plz update abt new rules

  14. sweet. this is why im doing a mechanical engineering degree. all you soft skill people can suck it!

  15. Funny I can think of 10 people just off the top of my head who went to University or College for positions on this list but can’t find work for the life of them, and now they have massive school loan debts and low paying jobs outside their field of study. Yet we give these jobs away to non-canadians constantly.

    Im sure anyone reading this knows people in the exact same situation.

    I see a problem here!! Don’t you???

  16. Hi there, if someone comes to canada on visit visa and hunt job, is there any success for this act ? Please advise

  17. David, I’m an unemployed IT worker retraining for a new field at great expense.

    If there truly were shortages of IT skills, the wages wouldn’t have dropped below those of unskilled workers like bus drivers and postal workers.

  18. Hi, David!

    I would like to ask what would be the easiest way to get in Canada since I already have an application since 2006 in one of the consultancies here and they even told us to withdraw our application because there is already a big backlog from the old policy of 60months of processing. Actually, we’re under this “old policy” unlike the “new policy” of 6-12months processing.
    Could you advise me regarding this. I have relatives in Quebec.
    Thanks!

  19. I think there are no advantages or chances that are clear. What matter is you meet the requirements in applying for a job if you are a foreign worker? Complete and genuine papers, enough education and background plus enough work experience

  20. With exception, zero units of assessment under the experience factor precludes further processing of the application. However, where the various components of an applicant’s employment profile are compatible with the job description of an “open” occupation, current guidelines provide in certain cases for the recognition and transferability of the related experience.

  21. Other critics note that the constant job turnover mandated by human resources department policies has the effect of increasing the unemployment rate , which has led to wage deflation in fields with large numbers of permatemps.

  22. i want to apply for PR for canada

  23. hello sir,
    With exception, zero units of assessment under the experience factor precludes further processing of the application. compatible with the job description of an “open” occupation, current guidelines provide in certain cases for the recognition and transferability of the related experience. there, if someone comes to canada on visit visa and hunt job, is there any success for this act ? Please adviseI am looking for a job in Canada and I am very much interested about the available opportunities.

  24. hi, i have recently finished my PhD dissertation in Sociology..dissertation have been submitted, is there any chance of work for me in Canada?

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  39. Hello,
    I am A industrial Pharmacist, now work in india in a pharma sector I would like to plan work in Canada in the same field and settle there. So any chances to get job in pharma sector as Industrial Pharmacist. Please revert me on my above mail.

    Thanks.

  40. Sir,
    I have passed 3 year diploma in Electronics engg. from govt. institute after that completed Advance diploma in Bio-medical equipment technology and maintainance course. But due to own work I have no experiece in any company. I am hard worker and like honesty in any work, deeds and in life. Presently, I am ready to work any work which is legal. Presently I am 40 year old and married, living with my family in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.