Canada's Occupational Outlook: 8.1 Million Job Vacancies Expected in the Next Eight Years
About the Job Market in Canada
According to the latest report of the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) released by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Canada is expected to see 8.1 million job vacancies in the next eight years. Nearly 70% of these vacancies will be triggered by a large-scale wave of retirements, while the remaining job demands will be brought about by economic growth.
Industries with High Demand
The job market in Canada is undergoing structural changes, with a surge in demand in the healthcare, technology, construction, and transportation industries. Some of the occupations that will be in high demand include:
- Nurses, particularly registered nurses, psychiatric nurses, and nursing assistants
- Home care aides, medical laboratory technicians, and pharmacists in the healthcare industry
- Software engineers, data scientists, artificial intelligence experts, and cybersecurity analysts in the technology industry
- Construction managers, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters in the construction industry
- Truck drivers, aviation technicians, subway and bus operators in the transportation industry
- Primary and secondary school teachers, vocational trainers, and special education teachers in the education industry
- Financial analysts, actuaries, marketing experts, and real estate agents in the commerce, trade, and finance industries
Occupations with Surplus Labor
The report also points out that there may be a surplus of labor in 17 occupations, most of which are concentrated in the arts, culture, and some administrative positions. Some examples include:
- Library and public archives technicians
- Data entry clerks
- Broadcasters
- Artistic occupations such as photography and performing arts assistants